POLIO: A WAKE-UP CALL: THE JOURNAL OF THE HEALTH VISITORS' ASSOCIATION

ABSTRACT

Polio virus, which causes a deadly disease that used to paralyze tens of thousands of children worldwide every year in the 1950s and 60s, is now spreading in London, New York and Jerusalem. It's happening for the first time in decades, spurring catch-up vaccination campaigns. A type 2 virus, related to the strain in the live oral vaccine used overseas, was first identified in samples from sewage works in north London in February. The virus has since been found in eight more treatment plants in different districts of the capital. Decades ago, before the introduction of the polio vaccination programme, up to 8000 people would develop paralysis due to polio every year in the UK.