It polio threatens the West again, where it has been eradicated for some time, after detection a case in new yorksomething that hasn’t happened for a decade, and permanent in wastewater great Britain. Has the disease that for years been a major health problem in many countries like Spain return? The European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) is clear: “While there are unvaccinated population group or not sufficiently vaccinated in European countries and polio will not be eradicated worldwidel, there is still a risk that virus reintroduced in Europe“.

After the first new case in the US since 2008 and possible local transmission in the UK, the disease is now a concern in the West. Around the worlduntil August 9, has been reported this year 19 cases of polio due to wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and 223 cases due to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).

London is not slow to react and has launched vaccination campaign to inject a dose strengthening for a million children between one and nine years of age, regardless of whether they already have complete guidelines, to ensure a high level of protection against the virus and limit its spread.

the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom and the wider European region of World Health Organization (WHO), has been polio-free since 2002. An inactivated polio vaccine is used in all European countries. Only two countries in the world where the disease remains endemic is Pakistan and Afghanistanwith 12 cases and one so far this year, respectively. Nigeriaother countries where there has been wild polio since 2016 without notifying a single case.

However, the ECDC pointed out that two countries (Poland and Romania) and neighboring countries (Ukraine) still have “high risk” from ongoing polio outbreaks as a result of imported wild poliovirus or the emergence of cVDPV, due to “suboptimal program performance and low population immunity.”

To limit the risk of reintroduction and continued transmission of polio in Europe, the ECDC considers it “important” to maintain high vaccination coverage in the general population and increasing vaccination acceptance in under-immunized populations”.

Recommendation to European citizens that they become long-term residents or visitors (more than 4 weeks) in countries with a potential risk of international spread of polio is that they receive a extra dose polio vaccine between four weeks and 12 months before international travel.

It Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus it attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis within hours, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It The virus enters the body through the mouth, usually when the hands have been contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

In its most severe form, it causes injury to the nerves and spinal cord, causing: paralysis, difficulty breathing and, in some cases, Dead. Paralysis is more common and severe when infection occurs in the elderly. It There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented. thanks to the vaccine. Of the three strains of wild poliovirus, only type 1 remains. Type 2 poliovirus was certified as eradicated in 2015, while type 3 did so in 2019.

Although it can cause paralysis and death, infected people usually don’t even show symptoms. If there is, usually there is mild and similar to other viral diseases such as fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, pain or stiffness in the back, neck, or arms or legs, and muscle weakness.