The virus is largely considered to have been eradicated in Europe. Now it is reappearing in crisis areas and can potentially become dangerous again. This is what you should know.
Israel is fighting the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There were already reports in June of several areas there where the virus that causes polio was resurfacing. It has been detected in sewers. One registered case stems from an eleven-month-old baby who has to live with the most severe restrictions.
The reason for the outbreak: vaccinations could not be carried out in the war zone. Or – as the WHO says: the humanitarian pauses in fighting that were actually promised would not be adhered to. The prevention program in the northern part of the Gaza Strip cannot begin as planned. Around 120,000 children under ten years of age should be given the second dose of vaccination there.
The first round in mid-September passed without any major incidents. In the central and southern Gaza Strip, almost 443,000 children have already received their second dose of vaccination. The vaccination protection only becomes effective after the second vaccination.
Polioviruses have several transmission routes: They are excreted in the stool and are primarily transmitted through smear infection (stool-hand-mouth). Infection via droplet infection is also possible.
Poor hygienic conditions and contaminated drinking water can be sources of infection. The fatal thing: The virus excretion in the stool can last up to six weeks, sometimes for months. And this means that people can continue to be infectious. The virus can also reach Europe again.
An infection can be asymptomatic – which is the most common case. But: Anyone who has symptoms is at high risk. Typical initial symptoms include fever, sore throat and headache. Every hundredth to a thousandth infected person experiences paralysis of the arm or leg muscles as well as paralysis of the speaking, swallowing or breathing muscles.
These complications lead to permanent paralysis and thus to muscle loss, reduced bone growth and joint destruction. A well-known victim of the disease was former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The most important means of combating the disease remains vaccination. The Standing Vaccination Commission recommends the vaccination schedule: All infants and young children should receive a basic immunization against polio with a combination vaccine that also includes vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) and hepatitis B. Carried out in three partial vaccinations.
The first vaccination should be given at the age of two months (from eight weeks). The second vaccination takes place at four months of age. There must be an interval of eight weeks between the first two doses of vaccination.
A booster vaccination should be given between the ages of nine and 16. Until 1998, this was done in schools with an oral vaccination.