Poliomyelitis (polio)
State and Territory information:
Polio is caused by a virus, and symptoms of the disease can take between 3 and 21 days after infection to show.
The polio virus spreads between people through contact with infected faeces and throat secretions.
Poliovirus infection occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and gut). In 90 per cent of cases, the illness has no symptoms.
Where symptoms do occur they include:
- headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- tiredness;
- neck and back stiffness; and
- severe muscle pain.
Polio is a vaccine preventable disease.
Vaccination recommended for routine childhood immunisation is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia Program.
For technical information refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 08 April, 2008