The world-wide vaccination campaign has led to a 99% reduction in polio cases since 1988.1
Risk areas for Polio
FAQs
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Key fact
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How do you get polio?
The polio virus lives in the intestine and spreads from person to person through coming into contact with the faeces of someone who has the infection.1 Eating food or drinking water contaminated by the faeces of someone who has polio can also transmit the disease.3
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Which countries are affected by polio?
Most countries are now free of polio (see map). The risk of polio is greatest in Afghanistan and Pakistan.1 Certain other countries are also affected.2
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What are the symptoms of polio?
Most people will not experience any symptoms.3 Those who do may get a flu-like illness up to 3 weeks after infection, including symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs.1,3
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How serious is polio?
Polio can be fatal and cannot be treated.1 Severe polio causes paralysis in 1 in 200 people, mainly of the legs and sometimes of the muscles used to breathe.1
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Can I prevent getting polio?
You can take the following precautions to help reduce your risk of infection:
- Visit your nearest convenient pharmacy or specialist travel health clinic for a risk assessment before your trip
Ready to get started? Check now for your nearest travel health clinic.
Get vaccinations and friendly advice from the UK's largest network of travel clinics*.
* This list is not exhaustive and other travel health providers are available.
References
- World Health Organization. Factsheet. Poliomyelitis. July 2019. Available online: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis (Last accessed May 2021)
- Polio Global Eradication Initiative. Polio Now WHO Data. 25 May 2021. Available online: https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/ (Last accessed May 2021)
- NHS. Conditions. Polio. July 2018. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polio/ (Last accessed May 2021).
UK-BOTB-2100032 May 2021
