Poliomyelitis (polio) is a paralytic disease caused by poliovirus, a highly infectious virus. Poliovirus is transmitted primarily from person-to-person via the fecal-oral route. At its peak in the United States, an estimated 21,000 cases of poliomyelitis were recorded in 1952. Polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, and the disease was declared eradicated from the Western Hemisphere in 1991, from the Western Pacific in 1997, and from Europe in 1998. The illness still occurs in some developing countries such as Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan and can be imported into countries where the disease has been eradicated, causing infections in susceptible or unvaccinated persons.
Resources for the general public
Resources for health care professionals
- Poliomyelitis is a reportable condition in King County: See disease reporting requirements.
- Clinical information for health professionals, CDC
- Poliomyelitis chapter from the CDC's Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
- Poliomyelitis chapter from CDC’s Health Information for International Travel
Polio in King County
Purpose of surveillance:
- To identify cases of imported poliomyelitis
- To identify cases and susceptible contacts of cases for immunization and to institute infection control measures
- To differentiate naturally-occurring and vaccine-associated polio viruses
The last case of poliomyelitis identified in Washington state occurred in 1977.