By the year 2005, India was to have become polio-free. Two years down the line, one of the country’s most successful immunisation campaigns is struggling to meet that goal. Not only old suspect areas but newer regions are reporting cases. Recently, Capital Delhi reported a case carrying the PV3 strain. Will India be able to eradicate polio? Are oral drops, which changed the way the world fought the highly infectious disease by providing an effective and cheap weapon against it, the answer? Or do we need to switch to the more expensive and painful injectable option? TEENA THACKER looks for answers:

What is polio?

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death in a matter of hours.

How is polio transmitted?

The polio virus (scientifically known as the wild poliovirus or WPV) enters the body through water or food that has been contaminated with faecal material from an infected person. The virus multiplies in the intestine. From blood it may pass to the nerves of the brain stem and spinal cord. The disease mainly affects children under five years.

Only humans can catch polio. The incubation period is three-five days for minor illness and one-two weeks for paralytic symptoms. So a large number of people may have had a minor dose of polio without really being aware of it. The more severe the original flu-like illness, the more chance there is of deterioration occurring later in life (fatigue & weakness).

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