The Boston Globe: Malawi vaccinates a new generation of children against polio, which still hasn’t been eradicated BLANTYRE, Malawi — In a classroom in southern Malawi, children sit in rows on the floor as a health worker moves among them administering an oral vaccine that protects against polio. The new ... Malawi vaccinates a new generation of children against polio, which still hasn’t been eradicated WHO fact sheet on poliomyelitis, a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.

Understanding the Context

The fact sheet includes key facts, global caseload, Global Eradication Initiative, progress, WHO response. 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 spread 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.

Key Insights

Learn about polio in the United States and when to get a vaccine for yourself or your child. Polio vaccination has been part of the routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States for decades. It's still part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used in other countries.

Final Thoughts

Poliovirus Containment Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease. CDC and its national and international partners have made significant progress towards polio eradication.