Polio spreads from humans through feces and saliva, especially through contaminated food and water. The virus enters the body through the mouth, enters the bloodstream, and attacks the nervous system, often causing lifelong paralysis.

Polio Symptoms

The main symptoms of polio are fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The virus that causes the disease is transmitted from person to person through contaminated water, food, dirty hands, etc., most often through close contact in the community. Approximately 1 in 200 cases of infection develops irreversible paralysis of the limbs, 5-10% of such people die due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

At the end of 2021, an outbreak of polio was recorded in Ukraine. As of mid-April 2022, more than 20 children have been affected by the disease, two of whom have developed paralysis.

The polio virus continues to circulate in the environment in Ukraine and is dangerous.

Polio prevention

The only reliable way to prevent the development of polio is vaccination.
In Ukraine, vaccination of children for the prevention of poliomyelitis is carried out at the age of 2.4 months with an inactivated polio vaccine and 6.18 months and 6.14 years with an oral vaccine with a weakened virus.

If the child is not vaccinated against polio, then at least three doses of the vaccine should be given immediately, with an interval of one month between each dose.

If a case is identified, all unvaccinated against polio people who have been in contact with an infected person and all those whose vaccination status is unknown should be vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health has also prepared an information monument about:

• how to avoid the spread of infectious diseases if you are in a temporary shelter;
• What to look out for when setting up a safe haven.

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