Polio: What you see is only the tip of the iceberg

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Polio: What you see is only the tip of the iceberg.
Polio is sneaky, silent and highly contagious. It doesn’t respect boundaries or social class – it is an equal opportunity paralyzer.
Even 1 case is an outbreak. For every one case of polio, 200 more kids are infected.

Polio infection kills and injures kids.
Out of 200 kids, 1 will be paralyzed. Up to 5% of those paralyzed will die because polio affects the muscles that help them breathe.
8 will suffer from viral meningitis.
191 may have no symptoms BUT are contagious…and the other kids they pass the virus to may not be as lucky.

Polio’s effects are serious and permanent.
Muscle weakness, chronic fatigue and pain severely limit the activities of people struck by polio.
Even children who seem to fully recover can develop new muscle pain, weakness, or paralysis as adults, at 50 or 60 years old. This is called post-polio syndrome.
In the countries where children still get polio, the disease reduces earning potential, prospects for marriage and a family of one’s own. Polio impacts one’s daily life.

Let’s eradicate this devastating disease.
Help create a polio-free world by making sure that you and your family members are vaccinated against polio.