Poliomyelitis (Polio)

It is an acute viral infection affecting the gastrointestinal tract and occasionally the central nervous system, acquired through faecal-oral or oral transmission.

Due to the polio eradication initiatives most areas are now considered to be polio free but there have been outbreaks in Asia & Africa.

Symptoms include fever, lethargy, nausea and coughing. Rarely it causes loss of muscle function.

Everyone should have their routine polio vaccination up to date and those travelling to endemic areas should have a booster.