Polio is a contagious virus that primarily causes paralysis, difficulty breathing and death. The Mayo Clinic reports that the last case of natural polio in the U.S. occurred in 1979. The polio vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing infection, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Therefore, persons traveling to high-risk areas, including Afghanistan, India and Nigeria, should be vaccinated beforehand. Ninety-five percent of polio cases cause minimal symptoms; however, less than one percent may result in severe nervous system complications, according to the Mayo Clinic. A person should be aware of the causes of the poliovirus and know what measures to take to avoid infection.
Contact With Mucus
Direct contact with the mucus of a person with polio can cause infection. The uninfected person must then touch his nose or mouth. The virus will spread to the throat and intestinal tract to multiply. The virus is absorbed from the intestinal tract, and will spread to the blood and the lymphatic system, or the body's immune system. It can take five to 35 days for this process to occur. A person can prevent infection from mucus by getting vaccinated before possible exposure. In addition, he should wash his hands before eating and he should never touch his face with dirty hands. Known areas of polio outbreaks should be avoided.
Contact With Feces
Contact with the feces of an infected individual can cause polio This usually occurs by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated foods. It may also occur due to inefficient hand washing. Therefore, a person should avoid drinking water that may be contaminated with fecal matter. Additionally, she should wash her hands after using the bathroom or after exposure to areas that may contain fecal material. Although she may be vaccinated against polio, frequent hand washing can also prevent infection from many other contagious diseases.
Contact With Infected Environment
A person living with or caring for someone infected with polio may also become infected, according to the Mayo Clinic. Even if the individual does not directly touch the infected person, the infected person can spread the virus to the surrounding environment. Therefore, it is necessary that anyone living with an infected person get vaccinated. In addition, he should frequently wash his hands and avoid contact with the mucus or feces of the infected person. Although most people do not have symptoms if they have been infected with polio, reports the Mayo Clinic, an individual living with or caring for someone infected with polio should seek immediate medical treatment if he begins to have fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue or muscle stiffness.
