Polio
Polio
Polio, or Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by one of the polioviruses. Polio affects the brain and spinal cord and causes a sudden onset of paralysis or weakness that makes arms or legs become floppy and hard to move.
Most people who get polio have no symptoms at all. Fewer than 1% of people who get polio will become paralyzed. Paralysis from polio comes on quickly and usually doesn’t get any worse after 3 days.
Polio is most commonly spread through the fecal-oral route (poop-to-hand-to-mouth). There is no cure for polio. The best way to prevent polio and paralysis from polio is to get vaccinated.
Information for the general public
Information for schools/childcare facilities
Information for public health departments
- Case report form
- Disease plan
- Immunization Action Coalition
- Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases
- The Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Pink Book)
- CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel