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Cause:
Poliovirus, a member of the enterovirus subgroup, family Picornaviridae. Three serotypes, P1, P2,
and P3 (and the related live oral vaccine strains), can cause disease.
Illness and treatment:
Over 90% of infections are asymptomatic and 4-8% are minor illnesses. Nonparalytic aseptic
meningitis with full recovery occurs in 1-2% of infections. Fewer than 1% of infections result
in flaccid paralysis. Treatment is supportive.
Sources:
Humans are the reservoir. Transmission is mainly through the fecal-oral route. Virus
may be present in the stool of an infected person for 3-6 weeks.
Additional risks:
Travel by susceptible persons to the few countries where polio is still endemic or to countries
still routinely using oral polio vaccine can increase the risk of becoming infected.
Prevention:
Universal immunization prevents infection. Only inactivated polio vaccine – which can prevent
paralysis, but does not provide intestinal immunity – is now used in this country.
Recent Washington trends:
The last naturally acquired infection with wild-type polio virus was in 1977. In 1993, a case
of vaccine-associated paralytic polio occurred in a state resident after a family member
received live oral polio vaccine, which is no longer used in the United States.
2010:
No cases were reported.
Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance
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To identify cases of polio.
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To prevent transmission of polio.
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To distinguish between wild-type polio and vaccine-associated paralytic polio.
Legal Reporting Requirements
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Health care providers:
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction
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Health care facilities:
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction
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Laboratories:
Poliovirus, acute, by IgM positivity or PCR positivity
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction; specimen submission is required –
isolate or clinical specimen associated with positive result (2 business days)
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Local health jurisdictions:
immediately notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE): 1-877-539-4344
Last update
December 2011 |
