(from The New York Times)
Polio
Parents in the early 1950s lived with a terror few could later imagine: the substantial prospect that their child could touch the wrong toy and end up in a wheelchair, an iron lung or a grave.
Polio epidemics, which had been occurring for decades, had gained new magnitude by the middle of the 20th century, killing or paralyzing more than half a million people worldwide each year. Families were avoiding public spaces and turning down summertime play dates, knowing that the malady struck fast: In the words of the historian and author Richard Rhodes, “One day you had a headache and an hour later you were paralyzed.”
In some parts of the world, the disease is still a major threat. It is transmitted by exposure to fecal matter, such as on contaminated foods or objects. Most people who contract the virus have no visible symptoms, though they can still pass it on. About a quarter develop common flu symptoms such as a sore throat, fever and nausea.
In severe cases, polio can affect the nerves and brain, causing meningitis and paralysis. When the muscles responsible for breathing are affected, the case can be lethal. And even decades after a resolved polio infection, people can experience muscle weakness and atrophy, which is referred to as post-polio syndrome.
In the United States, vaccines drove paralytic polio cases down from more than 21,000 in 1952 to just one in 1993. But in 2022, the C.D.C. confirmed a new case in Rockland County, N.Y., which had low vaccination coverage. The agency called the single case a public health emergency.
Emily Baumgaertner is a national health reporter for The Times, focusing on public health issues that primarily affect vulnerable communities. More about Emily Baumgaertner
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