Understanding the Polio Outbreak and Travel Warnings
Federal health officials have issued an urgent travel warning regarding a potentially dangerous disease known as polio. This highly infectious virus spreads through airborne droplets and feces, and it can attack the nervous system, leading to severe complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel advisories for several countries, including the UK, Germany, Finland, Poland, and Spain, where cases of polio are circulating.
Polio is often silent in most people, but in severe cases, it can cause muscle weakness, stiffness, spasms, difficulty swallowing, and even full-body paralysis. In the worst scenarios, it can paralyze the lungs and other muscles involved in breathing, which can be fatal. Although the United States successfully eradicated polio in 1979 after the introduction of the polio vaccine, sporadic cases have occasionally been reported since then.
According to the latest CDC data, polio has been detected in 39 countries and territories over the past year, with most cases occurring in Africa and the Middle East. Vaccines are routinely administered in the countries where polio is currently circulating. However, it remains unclear exactly where the virus was detected, though it is possible that it was found in wastewater from asymptomatic individuals who are carrying the virus.
The CDC has issued a level 2 travel advisory for Americans traveling to these affected countries, urging them to take “enhanced” precautions. This includes ensuring they are up to date on their polio vaccines or receiving a booster before their trip. The agency emphasizes that travelers should make sure they are fully vaccinated before any international travel.
In the UK, the last confirmed case of polio was in 1984, but the virus was detected in wastewater in 2022. The entire European region was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2002. Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease that affects the nervous system. It is caused by the poliovirus, which targets nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain stem.
Naturally-occurring poliovirus, referred to as wild-type poliovirus, has been eradicated in the US and most developed countries. However, another version of the virus derived from vaccines is more common but still rare. People who carry the poliovirus can spread it through droplets from sneezing or coughing and through feces.
Most people infected with polio do not show symptoms, but about nine out of 10 individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, and vomiting. This is known as “abortive polio.” Around one percent of patients develop nonparalytic polio, which leads to more severe flu-like symptoms, including neck and spine stiffness, decreased reflexes, and muscle weakness.
Nonparalytic polio can progress to paralytic polio, the most serious form of the disease. It causes intense pain, extreme sensitivity to touch, tingling sensations, muscle spasms, and paralysis. If the virus spreads to the lungs, it can lead to deadly breathing issues. The CDC warns that polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain.
The last confirmed case of polio in the US was in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult from Rockland County, New York. The individual reported symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, constipation, and back and abdominal pain. Further testing revealed at least 21 positive samples of the virus in wastewater samples in surrounding counties, although no additional confirmed cases were reported.
According to the latest CDC data, 92.5 percent of children in the US have received at least three doses of the polio vaccine. Children typically receive four doses by age six, which provides lifelong protection. Additional doses may be recommended for adults traveling to high-risk countries.
The CDC advises both children and adult travelers to high-risk regions to get a polio vaccine booster and to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of the virus. Taking these preventive measures is essential to protecting oneself and others from this potentially deadly disease.
