Life Cycle |
- Humans are the only hosts for the polio virus.
- Polio is spread when the feces of an infected person are ingested by a healthy person.
- In countries with poor sanitation practices, polio is spread when the water supply is contaminated by the feces of an infected person. In countries with better practices, the oral-oral route of transmission (saliva, respiratory secretions) is more common.
- Flies can, also, serve as carriers that carry the polio virus from feces to food and water.
- Most people who are carrying the polio virus are carrying the abortive polio virus in their intestines and show no symptoms. These people can pass along the virus for months before someone shows the symptoms of polio paralysis.
- The incubation period of the polio virus is usually 6 to 20 days but can be anywhere between 4 and 35 days.
- Malnutrition, immune deficiency, and pregnancy can increase the risk of infection and worsen the disease itself.
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliomyelitis
- http://www.polioeradication.org/Polioandprevention.aspx
- http://www.who.int/ith/diseases/polio/en/
- http://polio.emedtv.com/polio/polio-transmission.html
- http://polio.emedtv.com/polio/polio-transmission.html