Factfile on polio as end nears to eradication bid

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Factfile on polio, as a worldwide campaign battles to eliminate the disease by the end of 2005.

Disease: Poliomyelitis (polio) is an infectious disease caused by a virus which attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis within hours.

Symptoms: Fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck.

Victims: Children under five years of age are most at risk.

Impact: There is no cure for polio which can cause crippling and paralysis, difficulty in breathing and even lead to fatal conditions. The most extreme paralysis is only recorded in fewer than one percent of cases.

Transmission: Polio is mainly passed through person to person contact especially in areas of poor hygiene.

Countries affected: Polio is...