The polio vaccine protects against poliovirus, which is primarily transmitted via faeces.

Polio is an infection of the nervous system. Polio spreads from person to person and via food and drink, and is highly contagious. Although great efforts are being made to contain and eradicate Polio, it is still not successful.

Where are you at risk of being infected with Polio?

Polio is transmitted from person to person either by direct contact with faeces or indirectly by consuming contaminated food and drinks.

Polio is also transmitted via droplet transmission, for example by sneezing or coughing.

Polio can be transmitted via droplet transmission for two to three days, while it can be transmitted via faeces for two to three weeks.

In which areas is Polio found?

Polio is no longer widespread in most parts of the world, since polio is vaccinated in the childhood vaccination programs, and the number of polio cases has dropped dramatically. 

Polio infection is most often seen in developing countries, as vaccinations are not available and there is limited access to clean water and good toilet conditions. Areas of outbreaks change all the time, and the risk of polio (polio) in individual countries can therefore change.

What symptoms can be seen in Polio?

Most people who become infected with polio never develop symptoms. However, approximately five percent get symptoms of varying degrees.

Mild polio symptoms include:

• short-term fever

• mild headache

• vomiting

• diarrhea

• sore throat

Some people develop nerve damage and permanent paralysis as a result of polio, and may develop symptoms such as:

• severe headache

• nausea

• vomiting

• affected consciousness

• cramps

Few people develop paralytic Polio:

• muscle weakness with paralysis

• tremors

• difficulty swallowing

• breathing difficulties

It is about 1 in 200 polio-infected people who develop the paralysis, which is most often in the legs. 

What treatment is available for Polio?

Once the polio infection has started in the body, there is no treatment for the viral infection itself. Instead, symptoms are treated to reduce and improve the symptoms, and the purpose of the treatment is to reduce the risk of paralysis.

In some cases, a respirator is also used in connection with polio treatment if the patient has difficulty breathing.

Paralysis after polio infection improves in the first six months after infection, but after this period the paralysis can become persistent and can lead to disability in various degrees of severity for the rest of life.

Sometimes there can be an unexpected and acute deterioration of the function of the affected muscles after a long and stable period of several years. This condition is called post-polio syndrome.

WHO / Danish authorities recommend vaccination/revaccination against polio on departure for persons who have stayed four weeks or more in Afghanistan, Algeria Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada (however, SSI only recommends this for travelers to Montreal), Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, , Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Israel, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, United Kingdom including Northern Ireland (However, SSI only recommends this for travelers to London), USA (However, SSI only recommends this for travelers to New York), Yemen, and Zambia, and where the last polio vaccination was given more than one year ago.

All travelers should be fully vaccinated against Polio when traveling to the following countries. This currently applies to travelers to the following countries: Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda and Ukraine