What are the symptoms of polio?

Most people who have a poliovirus infection do not have any symptoms, or only have mild flu-like symptoms that go away on their own. Some people develop very serious symptoms. If there is an infection of the spinal cord, possibly also affecting the brain stem, the patient could be paralysed and/or develop meningitis. If that happens, the breathing muscles could also be affected. This can lead to death.

Who can become very ill from polio?

Anyone who has not been fully vaccinated against polio (3 vaccine doses) could get the disease. Some people have a higher risk of paralysis:

• older people (over 65) – the risk of paralysis increases as a person gets older
• young boys before puberty
• pregnant people
• people with weak immune systems
• people who did hard physical work or major exertion within 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus
• people who had an injection into a muscle within 1 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus
• people whose tonsils were removed

How does polio spread?

Polio is an infectious disease. A person can be exposed through the stool (poop) of an infected person. After a visit to the toilet, the infected person could have the virus on their hands. Hand contact can also transfer the virus to the mouth. Sometimes people can also infect others by sneezing, coughing, talking or shouting.

The time between exposure and illness (the incubation period) is 3 to 35 days. On average, it usually takes 7 to 14 days.

How can I prevent polio?

A vaccination gives you effective protection against polio. The vaccination against polio has been in the National Immunisation Programme since 1957. Babies receive three injections that protect them against polio. After that, children have one more vaccination against polio at the age of 14 years.

Vaccination protects you against all three types of the poliovirus – and you are probably protected for life. Have you had a poliovirus infection? Then you are protected against the type of poliovirus that you had. If you are not vaccinated, you could still get the other two types.

Anyone who comes into contact with the poliovirus can transfer it to others. Good hygiene is a very important way to prevent the spread of poliovirus. Wash your hands to prevent transferring the virus from hands to mouth. Clean the toilet thoroughly and cough and sneeze into a paper tissue.

Is there any treatment for polio?

There is no treatment for polio. The body has to clear the virus on its own. However, there are treatments for people who have been paralysed due to polio. Some polio patients have to spend the rest of their lives on artificial respiration. Patients also sometimes have physical therapy, but this only results in partial recovery. About 20% to 30% of patients develop new symptoms years after the original infection. This could include muscle weakness, muscle pain, loss of muscle tissue and tiredness. This is called post-polio syndrome.

How common is polio in the Netherlands?

Polio has been completely eradicated in the Netherlands. That means it is no longer present here. The last outbreak was in 1992–93 and occurred among people who were not vaccinated. During this outbreak, 71 cases of polio were reported and 2 people died. Before people were able to get vaccinated against polio, the disease was common. Many people died from it. Since the vaccination was introduced in 1957, polio-related deaths dropped significantly. No more cases of polio have been reported in the Netherlands since 1994.