Polio

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. It spreads primarily through the faecal-oral route, meaning it is transmitted when a person ingests water or food contaminated with the faeces of an infected individual. It can also spread through contact with the saliva or mucus of an infected person. The virus enters the body through the mouth, multiplies in the intestines, and can in some cases invade the nervous system. Wild poliovirus has been largely eliminated globally through decades of mass vaccination campaigns, with wild poliovirus type 1 now only confirmed as endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, which can emerge in under-vaccinated populations, has been detected in a number of countries in Africa and Asia, and cases have also been identified in parts of Europe and the United States in recent years. This means that travellers to a broader range of destinations may still be at risk, and maintaining up-to-date vaccination remains important. Some countries require evidence of polio vaccination as a condition of entry or exit, particularly for travellers spending extended periods in high-risk areas.

Symptoms

The majority of people infected with poliovirus, around 70 percent, will experience no symptoms at all, while a further quarter may develop a mild illness resembling flu, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and a sore throat. These cases typically resolve within a week or two without any lasting effects. However, in approximately one in 200 infections, the virus invades the nervous system and causes irreversible paralysis, most commonly affecting the legs. This is known as paralytic polio. In the most severe cases, paralysis of the muscles involved in breathing can be life-threatening and may require mechanical ventilation. There is no cure for polio once paralysis has occurred, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and supporting rehabilitation. Some polio survivors also develop a condition known as post-polio syndrome decades after their initial infection, experiencing new or worsening muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain. The unpredictable nature of the disease and the permanence of its most serious complications make vaccination the only reliable form of protection.

Vaccination

Most people in the UK will have received polio vaccination as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, which includes five doses of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) given between infancy and the teenage years. For travellers, it is important to ensure this primary course is complete and that a booster has been received within the last ten years if visiting a country where polio remains a risk. In the UK, the polio vaccine is not given in isolation but is administered as part of a combined injection also protecting against diphtheria and tetanus, known as the Td/IPV booster. This makes updating polio protection a straightforward process that simultaneously ensures cover against two other important travel-related infections. Some countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, require travellers who have spent time in high-risk areas to have received a polio vaccine dose within twelve months of arrival, and may request a valid International Certificate of Vaccination as proof. At Market Harborough Travel Clinic, we will check your vaccination history and advise whether a booster is needed before your trip, ensuring you are fully protected and meet any entry requirements for your destination.

Book Now

Book your appointment with us today to receive your vaccine and other essential travel vaccinations. Let us help you travel with confidence and peace of mind.