Poliomyelitis. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease.

Poliomyelitis

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease

One In 200 infections results in paralysis, usually of the legs.

In the 1930s a polio epidemic emerged in the US. Although Polio isn’t the most deadly infectious

disease it terrified everyone

So why an epidemic?

• http://www.museumofdisability.org/siteimages/media/MagAdMarchofDimes.jpg

•Around the 1900s nations cleaned up their water supplies

So why an epidemic?

• http://www.museumofdisability.org/siteimages/media/MagAdMarchofDimes.jpg

•Around the 1900s nations cleaned up their water supplies

• Mothers used to pass antibodies to their children.

So why an epidemic?

• http://www.museumofdisability.org/siteimages/media/MagAdMarchofDimes.jpg

•Around the 1900s nations cleaned up their water supplies

• Mothers used to pass antibodies to their children.

•By the 1930s mothers no longer had those antibodies to pass to their children since they had never been exposed to the virus before

So why an epidemic?

• http://www.museumofdisability.org/siteimages/media/MagAdMarchofDimes.jpg

•Around the 1900s nations cleaned up their water supplies

• Mothers used to pass antibodies to their children.

•By the 1930s mothers no longer had those antibodies to pass to their children since they had never been exposed to the virus before

•THIS LEFT CHILDREN VULNERABLE

It was not just a disease of the poor!

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12_03/polioDM_468x707.jpg

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

This got peoples attention!

• “Iron lungs” were used to help patients breathe if the paralysis spread to their diaphragm.

Clearly a vaccination is in order.

BUT first what causes polio?

The Poliovirus (PV) Causes Polio

Poliovirus invading a cell

•The virus attaches to specific cell-surface receptors (Vpr)

Poliovirus invading a cell

•The virus attaches to specific cell-surface receptors (Vpr)

•It then enters the cell through endocytosis and releases its genetic material into the cytoplasm

POLIOVIRUS

PV enters the body through the nose or mouth then lives and multiplies in the human gut.

POLIOVIRUS

• During this stage the patient experiences flu like symptoms such as:– Headache– vomiting– fever– Neck stiffness– Pain in limbs

Next, the virus moves to the blood stream where the immune system makes antibodies to it and hopefully fights it off.

If the Immune system fails…

PV travels to the central nervous system and attacks motor neurons which can result in flaccid paralysis, muscle weakening or death.

BUT, thankfully the human immune system is so good that it only causes paralysis in 1 in 200 cases!!

However it can still spread…

The poliovirus spreads through infected feces or phlegm

Open sewer

The Virus Can survive for up

to two months

outside the body!!!

The Virus Can survive for up

to two months

outside the body!!!

To stop the spread of polio scientists developed vaccines

• In 1955 Dr. Jonas Salk produced the first polio vaccine:

• A Killed virus vaccine

• 70-90% effective against all three strains of poliovirus

In 1957 Albert Sabin developed a live, attenuated vaccine

• Delivered orally

• provided longer immunity

Mandatory Vaccinations eliminated wild poliovirus infections from the U.S.

by 1979!!!

So What Next??

So What Next??

1988 a global eradication plan was put into action

•Lead by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary international; and the US centers for disease control

The number of cases dropped by over 99% in the 20 years! (WHO)

• http://www.africagoodnews.com/development/health/2227-new-hope-for-polio-eradication.html

And It Only takes a few drops!

20 million volunteers have vaccinated 2 billion children in 200 countries!

But there is still much work to be done!

• The eradication campaign has encountered many set backs – Especially in the countries that remain endemic

• Polio remains endemic in only four nations:– Pakistan– Afghanistan– India – Nigeria

The Numbers Today