Transmitted by contaminated water or food, or even through contact with an infected person, polio, also known as infantile paralysis or simply polio, is a viral disease that can be fatal. Currently, it is considered eradicated in Brazil, and less than 15,000 annual cases are recorded in other countries.
The disease is considered endemic in only two countries in the world. However, in recent years, the vaccination rate of the target audience in Brazil (children up to 5 years of age) has dropped worryingly, leaving millions of little ones at risk. To help raise public awareness, here are 6 important facts about polio.
1. The virus affects the nervous system and spinal cord
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Polio is a rapidly evolving disease. The virus that causes it, after entering the body, attacks layers of proteins and fats in the nerves, known as myelin, preventing the nerves from sending and receiving signals.
It can also reach the spinal cord and the nervous system, creating the risk of paralysis in the arms and legs. It is important to emphasize that, if this occurs, the paralysis is permanent. It can even harm respiratory muscles, making it a disease with great potential to be fatal.
2. Anyone can get polio
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One of the most important presidents in the history of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt contracted the polio virus when he was 39 years old. This is an alert to demystify the idea that polio is a childhood disease. In fact, the virus is capable of affecting anyone, regardless of age.
3. Initial symptoms resemble those of the flu
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One of the dangers of polio is that its initial symptoms are very similar to those of polio. a regular flu. Sore throat, fever, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and stomach aches can all feel like the flu. The evolution of symptoms leads to tingling sensation in the legs, paralysis and possible meningitis.
4. It was eradicated in Brazil
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Brazil experienced a period of high number of polio cases between the years from 1968 to 1989. Data from the Ministry of Health indicate that in these 21 years the country recorded more than 26 thousand cases of the disease. It was to combat and reduce these numbers that the country created, in 1980, the first national immunization campaign against poliomyelitis.
If you want to be proud of Brazil, you can brag about the fact that we were pioneers in many strategies to engage the population, such as “D-Days”, large vaccination efforts, and the beloved character of children, Zé Gotinha. The last recorded case of polio is from 1989, and since 1994 it has been considered an eliminated disease.
Unfortunately, this factor may also have contributed to the drop in vaccination rates, as people stop watch the impacts of the disease and believe that there is no way to contaminate themselves.
5. There is no cure for polio
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Polio has existed for thousands of years as an endemic pathogen. The first epidemics were recorded only in 1880, from Europe and, years later, from the United States. The disease has spread around the world as early as the 20th century and, unfortunately, has no cure.
However, there are modern treatments to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. For this reason, polio vaccination is very important, as it prevents the virus from spreading and reaching vulnerable people. It may seem little, but worldwide efforts in this direction allowed the disease to be eradicated in different countries, including Brazil.
6. Vaccination is the best protection
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For 27 years, polio has been considered an eradicated disease in Brazil. This achievement was only possible thanks to massive vaccination campaigns in the 1980s. It was at this time that the Federal Government created the character Zé Gotinha, as part of efforts to combat the disease. The Ministry of Health instituted the famous “D-Days”, which are widely publicized and work as a collective effort for vaccination.
The polio vaccine was created by Albert Sabin, coming into commercial use in 1961. It is extremely safe and 90% effective against the disease-causing virus. It is important to emphasize: if you were not vaccinated as a child, go to a health center and get vaccinated: it can be given at any stage of life and is free.
