Poliovirus

By Isaiah Tan

Poliovirus was discovered by Carl Landsteiner and Erwin Poppers in the year of 1904.

The virus can cause shrinkage of arms and legs, and may cause paralysis leading to death.

There are ways for the poliovirus to infect people. The virus can spread through the unfiltered water, direct contact or living with the infected people, or sharing water with them.

There are four regions that are poliovirus-free namely America, Europe, Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. However, polio is still persistent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria; therefore, any attempt to eliminate the poliovirus can only help to save the economy and save $40-50bilion for the next 20 years.

There is only one way to prevent the poliovirus outbreak and infection: vaccination. Even without the symptoms, the poliovirus can spread.

Experts say that, if in a neighbourhood, there are 70 people out of every hundred that is vaccinated, the chances of an entire neighbourhood getting a polio outbreak are much lower.