World Polio Day is celebrated every year on October 24. On this day, efforts are made to make people aware of the importance of polio vaccination. On this day, campaigns against polio are run all over the world to eradicate polio. But did you know that World Polio Day was started by Rotary International? This day is celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of Jonas Salk. Jonas Salk led the first team to discover a polio vaccine. In 1988, the World Health Assembly launched a mission to eliminate polio from all countries of the world. Through this mission, emphasis was laid on giving vaccines to all children to protect them from this terrible disease. World Polio Day is part of this initiative.
Polio is a terrible disease, which if infected can even lead to paralysis. This mostly happens to children below 5 years of age, hence it is very important to give all the vaccines to children on time. For the unversed, India became a polio-free country in 2014.
What is polio?
Polio is also known as poliomyelitis. It is caused by infection with the polio virus, which affects the nerves of the spinal cord. This can cause paralysis or even death. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the polio virus first infects your throat and then your intestines. Because of this, flu-like symptoms are noticed. After this, the infection affects your brain and spinal cord. It is an infectious disease, which can spread easily from one person to another.
How does polio spread?
Not washing hands properly after going to the toilet
Drinking or cooking with dirty water
Coming into contact with the spit, saliva, or feces of an infected person
From swimming in dirty water
From eating dirty food
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What are its symptoms?
Sore throat
Fever
Headache
Stomach pain
Vomit
Diarrhea
Exhaustion
Neck and back stiffness
Muscle pain
Trouble moving legs or arms
Paralysis
What is the method of prevention?
The only way to prevent polio is its vaccine. The oral polio vaccine is given in India. Polio drops are given to every child below 5 years of age.
