World Polio Day

24 October

World Polio Day

World Polio Day aims to increase awareness about polio virus and to encourage further actions to reduce it from spreading. The commemoration of the day also highlights the success of global strategies in reducing the spread of the disease.

Polio is a highly infectious disease which targets the nervous system and can cause paralyssis

Facts about polio disease:

Polio affects children mainly below the age of five, but immune and partially immune adults can still be affected by the disease
Although the most visible sign of polio is paralysis; only one percent of the effects of the disease is likely to be paralysis
Polio has no symptoms and can spread widely before paralysis is visible. Those affected by polio are often not aware that hey have the disease
It is passed through person to person contact
The disease has been eliminated in most countries in the world
There is no treatment for polio. However, the disease can be prevented through vaccination.

Sources:

World Polio Day
Global Polio Eradication Initiative