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Polio Information for the Public
Polio (or poliomyelitis) is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can infect a person’s spinal cord, leading to paralysis.
Polio has been eliminated from the United States, but it still occurs in other parts of the world.
There is no cure for polio.
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Transmission (Spread)
Polio is very contagious. The virus lives in an infected person's throat and intestines. It spreads from person-to-person and through contaminated food and water.
Poliovirus enters the body through the mouth. You can get polio from:
- Contact with the feces (poop) of an infected person
- Droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person (less common)
An infected person can spread polio virus to others immediately before and up to 2 weeks after symptoms appear.
People who don't have symptoms can still pass the virus to others and make them sick.
About Polio in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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PreventionThere are two types of vaccine to prevent polio:
- Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
- Given by an injection in the leg or arm.
- Only IPV has been used in the United States since 2000.
- Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV).
- Given by drops in the mouth.
- Still used in many parts of the world
The routine schedule for IPV polio vaccination in children is:- Dose 1: 2 months
- Dose 2: 4 months
- Dose 3: 6 through 18 months
- Dose 4: 4 through 6 years
Routine Polio Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
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Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of polio begin 3-6 days after first exposure to the virus.
Most people infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms.
About 1 out of 4 people with infected with poliovirus can have flu-like symptoms including:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Stomach pain
These symptoms usually last 2 to 5 days.
About Polio in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) -
Risk of Disease
Polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the United States. Thanks to the polio vaccine, wild poliovirus has been eliminated in the U.S.
Before vaccination, more than 21,000 paralytic cases of polio were reported in the U.S. in 1952.
The last case of wild poliovirus acquired in the U.S. was in 1979.
Polio is still circulating in some areas of the world.
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Reporting
Polio is a notifiable disease. A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials.
Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often.
Notifiable diseases in Michigan:
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Condition
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Pathogen -
Questions About
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Polio and the vaccine used to prevent it.
Learn About Polio Fact Sheet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Polio: Questions and Answers (immunize.org) -
For More Information
Polio Vaccination
Polio: The Disease & Vaccines (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
Polio Vaccination for International Travelers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
History of Polio Vaccine: History of Vaccines (College of Physicians of Philadelphia)
How Vaccines Work
Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
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Access Your Immunization Record
If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).
Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.