Polio Facts

General information about polio, including symptoms, complications, tests, and treatment.

On this page:
What is polio?
What are the symptoms of polio?
What are the complications of polio?
How is polio diagnosed?
Can anyone get polio?
Is there a vaccine for polio?
How is polio spread?
When and for how long is a person able to spread polio?
What can be done to prevent the spread of polio?

What is polio?

Polio is an infection caused by a virus that lives in the intestinal tract and sometimes throat. Polio was eliminated from the United States in 1979. While the number of polio cases has decreased around the world, polio cases are still reported in many countries.

What are the symptoms of polio?

Symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. Up to 95 percent of all persons infected with polio will have not have symptoms.

What health problems does polio cause?

Most people recover from polio without any problems. Approximately four to eight percent of those with polio develop health problems such as meningitis, and less than one percent develops permanent paralysis.

How is polio diagnosed?

Polio can only be diagnosed with laboratory testing by taking samples from the stool or throat.

Can anyone get polio?

Anyone who has not been vaccinated can get the disease. Since there are people throughout the world and in the United States that are not vaccinated, it is possible that infected travelers can carry polio to unvaccinated people.

Is there a vaccine for polio?

Yes. The inactivated polio vaccine, or IPV, is very effective.

• Infants and young children:
  • Polio vaccination is required for child care and school.
  • Children usually receive three doses of IPV vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
  • A booster doses is given again at 4 to 6 years of age.
• Adults:
  • Most adults who were born and raised in the U.S. can assume they were vaccinated against polio as children.
  • Vaccination with polio vaccine provide lifelong immunity.
  • Adults who know or suspect they have never been vaccinated with either oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) should receive a three-dose series of IPV. If an adult has never completed the series, they should receive the remaining doses needed to complete the three-dose series.
  • Adults who have completed a polio vaccine series but are at increased risk, may receive one lifetime booster:
    • Travelers who are visiting countries where there is polio disease. For more information on where polio is circulating visit CDC Travelers' Health: Destinations.
    • Adults identified by public health authorities as being part of a group at increased risk of exposure because of an outbreak.

How is polio spread?

The poliovirus is found in the stool and throat. It is spread through contact with the stool of an infected person (for instance, by changing diapers). Poliovirus must be swallowed to cause infection. This can happen when hands that are contaminated with stool are put in the mouth.

The period between exposure to the virus and onset of illness is usually six to 20 days but can range from three to 35 days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread polio?

A person with polio can spread the virus to others seven to 10 days before and after the illness appears, but the virus can be found in the stool from three to six weeks.

What can be done to prevent the spread of polio?

Vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of polio. Widespread immunization against polio is critical to controlling the spread of the disease and preventing disability. Additional ways to prevent the spread of polio include:

• Avoid close contact with others who are ill.
• Stay at home if ill.
• Wash hands with soap and water after toileting, changing diapers, and before preparing food and eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.