Polio Re-Emerges in Western Nations: Experts Warn of Potential Outbreaks

A highly infectious and once-eradicated disease is making a comeback in parts of the world, despite widely available and effective vaccines. Polio, a serious illness that can cause paralysis or death, has re-emerged in Western nations, including the UK and the US, sparking concerns of potential outbreaks in Canada. The re-emergence of polio is attributed to various factors, including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy fueled by pandemic misinformation, and unequal access to vaccines in some parts of the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a serious illness that attacks a person's nerve cells in the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis and death.
• The first case of polio in Canada was reported in 1910, and the disease was largely eradicated in the country in 1994 due to vaccination campaigns.
• Canadians are mostly vaccinated against polio, with about 90% of children in the country being considered vaccinated against the disease.
• The re-emergence of polio in Western nations is attributed to imported cases, if an unvaccinated person traveled to a part of the world where the virus has not been eradicated.
• The oral vaccine used in some parts of the world contains a live version of the virus, which can replicate within an immunocompromised person and transform into a version that causes illness.
• Vaccine hesitancy fueled by pandemic misinformation and delays in getting children vaccinated against multiple illnesses due to pandemic shutdowns can leave the population more vulnerable to polio.
• Experts recommend focusing on getting everyone up-to-date on routine vaccinations, particularly the very young and those who have been missed for any reason.

Statistics:

• There were over 9,000 cases of polio reported in Canada in 1953, with close to 500 deaths.
• Approximately 90% of children in Canada are considered vaccinated against polio.
• The US reported its first case of polio in 10 years in July 2022.
• The UK has found evidence that the polio virus has spread to multiple parts of the city in London.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada plans to test wastewater across the country for traces of the polio virus.

Sources:

• Olivia Bowden, Toronto-based staff reporter for The Toronto Star
• Dawn Bowdish, Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster University
• Dr. Sameer Elsayed, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Western University
• Colin Furness, Infection Control Epidemiologist at the University of Toronto
• Ontario Health
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
• Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)