Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. It is spread through the fecal-oral route, typically through contaminated food, water, and objects that have come into contact with the infected person’s feces. If a person is infected with the virus, it can lead to paralysis and even death. Polio has been nearly eradicated worldwide thanks to vaccination efforts, but there is still a risk of infection in countries where vaccination rates are low. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against polio, and it is recommended that all children receive the oral polio vaccine (OPV) several times during their childhood.