The National 2 December 2020 Letter to the Editor Misack Ruri UPNG
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It lives in the faeces of an infected person and spreads from person to person by poor hygiene and consuming of infected water and food.
The virus can spread through respiratory droplets when coming into close contact with an infected person who coughs and sneezes.
Polio infection mainly results in a mild illness that causes symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, muscle stiffness and pain.
In rare cases, polio infection can cause major illness that affects the central nervous system and causes life-long paralysis and in some cases, death.
Today the disease is 99.9% eradicated thanks to tireless global efforts. It continues to be a threat to the most vulnerable regions including PNG.
Polio is a concern to public health because it spreads easily and can circulate without causing symptoms for weeks and travel great distances entering polio free areas by land, sea or air.
We should protect ourselves by carrying out effective vaccinations and adhering to proper precautions. Together we can make PNG polio free.
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