What is Polio?Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease; which can affect anyone throughout the world (as it can be present in all continents), but it is most commonly found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although it is unknown to when and where the polio virus had originated from, it is likely that polio has been existent for thousands of years. Polio is transmitted to a person through the fecal route. This occurs as people living in areas with limited access to running water or flushing toilets often receive the virus from drinking water that has been contaminated by human waste or (less frequently) by a common vehicle. E.g. contaminated food/water. One of the most common symptoms is weakness in limbs. The virus expands inside the intestines from where it spreads to the nervous system, which can cause paralysis.
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