What Is Polio?
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person. It spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.
This disease once struck fear into the hearts of parents in Ireland, particularly during the 40s and 50s when epidemics left many children with lifelong disabilities, or in some cases paralysed, facing years of rehabilitation and operations.
The last great polio epidemics plagued Ireland in the mid-1950s, as well as the rest of Europe and America.
The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was developed by Jonas Salk in late 1955 and the oral polio vaccine (OPV), became available in 1962 following the work of Albert Sabin. The widespread use of these vaccines has made acute polio in the developed world a rarity.
It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 survivors of polio living in the Republic of Ireland at present. Most of these people are middle aged or becoming elderly.
We also have a growing number of members who have come to Ireland from countries where polio is still endemic. These members are often younger than those who had polio in the Irish epidemics, but may not have had access to the supports available for polio patients in Ireland.
Polio Symptoms
Infection rates are very high, but the vast majority of polio patients show no symptoms or appear as if they have a flu-like illness. These symptoms usually last for 2–10 days and most recovery is complete in almost all cases.
However, in other cases the virus causes paralysis, usually of the legs, which is most often permanent. Paralysis can occur as rapidly as within a few hours of infection. Of those paralysed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised. That is why you will see old photos of children and adults in iron lungs, like the one pictured. These are machine shaped like a coffin that would help you breathe.
You can read about one of our founding members, Jim Costello and his experience of life in an iron lung by clicking here.
Polio Eradication
As a result of vaccination, polio is eradicated from Ireland, however it is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where efforts to End Polio Now continue, thanks to the World Health Organisation, Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.