Preventing Polio
Polio Fact Sheet (PDF 18 KB)
Polio occurs when a person ingests food
or water that has been contaminated with poliovirus. Polio is usually spread
via the fecal-oral route; in other words, the virus is transmitted from the
stool of an infected person to the mouth of another person from contaminated
hands or objects, such as eating utensils.
The only effective control measure is widespread immunization with polio
vaccine. A series of four injections containing polio vaccine is usually
given to children starting at two months of age. The last booster dose is
normally given between four and six years of age.
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