Polio News and Research

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Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause severe paralysis. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Polio mainly affects children under five years of age. Naturally occurring polio was eliminated in the U.S. in 1979 and in the Western Hemisphere by 1991; however, worldwide efforts are continuing towards eradication of this contagious and devastating disease.

Leaders call for renewed global solidarity to eradicate polio

Today, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) will launch the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise at a virtual event, to overcome the remaining challenges to ending polio, including setbacks caused by COVID-19.

11 Jun 2021

Childhood vaccination rates in Texas have dropped steeply during COVID-19 pandemic

A team of researchers from universities in California and Texas has found immunization rates for children in Texas for a wide range of diseases, including polio and measles, have dropped steeply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 Jun 2021

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Inoculation with live attenuated vaccines (LAV) such as those used against TB, polio or measles can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases, including COVID-19, says a new study.

2 Jun 2021

Reusing old vaccines to boost innate immunity against COVID-19

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently the best form of protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. But a new perspective article published in the journal PNAS suggests it’s not the panacea to stopping SARS-CoV-2.

31 May 2021

Novel broad-spectrum antiviral compounds effective against Zika and SARS-CoV-2

A research team at the University of Alberta, Canada, led by Dr. Daniel Limonta, has described two novel molecules with broad antiviral properties that are effective against a range of virus types, including SARS-CoV-2.

21 May 2021

Mistrust in local, national governments is slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa

Mistrust in local and national governments is slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa, which has half of the world's unvaccinated and undervaccinated children, a study shows.

20 May 2021

Study reports vitamin C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus main protease

Based on structural analysis, researchers found that vitamin C binds to 3CLpro, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease essential in viral replication. In vitro cell inhibition studies also showed vitamin C could inhibit 3CLpro, indicating a possible new antiviral treatment method.

6 May 2021

India's successful program to eliminate polio provides guidance for mass immunization initiatives

As India urgently scales up its vaccination campaign for the COVID-19 virus, a new study which examined the country's successful program to eliminate polio provides guidance on how this and future mass immunization campaigns can be successful, especially in vaccinating hard to reach groups.

6 May 2021

Government mistrust plays a vital role in slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa

Mistrust in local and national government plays a significant role in slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa - the continent home to half of the world's unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children, new research reveals.

30 Apr 2021

Study: More than a quarter of American infants not received common childhood vaccines

More than a quarter of American infants in 2018 had not received common childhood vaccines that protect them from illnesses such as polio, tetanus, measles, mumps and chicken pox, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.

29 Apr 2021

World Immunization Week: Vaccination in 2021

News-Medical talks to experts in different areas of the medical sector on why immunization week is so prevalent in 2021.

27 Apr 2021

Fighting malaria in 2021: Where are we now and where are we going?

In support of World Malaria Day, News-Medical spoke to Dr. Laurence Slutsker, an internationally recognized expert in malaria, about fighting this disease in 2021.

26 Apr 2021

Disruptions to essential health services due to COVID-19 pandemic persist in 90% of countries

The second round of a World Health Organization "pulse survey" reveals that over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial disruptions persist, with about 90% of countries still reporting one or more disruptions to essential health services, marking no substantial global change since the first survey conducted in the summer of 2020.

23 Apr 2021

COVID-19 vaccination of lactating mothers elicits specific IgA antibodies in breast milk

A new study, released on the medRxiv* preprint server, examines the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA in human milk and its association with the protection of breastfed infants against the disease.

16 Apr 2021

Alpaca nanobodies effective against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

Researchers in South Africa and the UK have identified alpaca-derived nanoantibodies that potently neutralize variants of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

13 Apr 2021

Polio News and Research

Further Reading

Leaders call for renewed global solidarity to eradicate polio

Childhood vaccination rates in Texas have dropped steeply during COVID-19 pandemic

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Reusing old vaccines to boost innate immunity against COVID-19

Novel broad-spectrum antiviral compounds effective against Zika and SARS-CoV-2

Mistrust in local, national governments is slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa

Study reports vitamin C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus main protease

India's successful program to eliminate polio provides guidance for mass immunization initiatives

Government mistrust plays a vital role in slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa

Study: More than a quarter of American infants not received common childhood vaccines

World Immunization Week: Vaccination in 2021

Fighting malaria in 2021: Where are we now and where are we going?

Disruptions to essential health services due to COVID-19 pandemic persist in 90% of countries

COVID-19 vaccination of lactating mothers elicits specific IgA antibodies in breast milk

Alpaca nanobodies effective against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

World Health Day 2021: The humanitarians building a fairer world

Asymmetrical vaccine distribution could promote vaccine evading mutations in SARS-CoV-2

‘COVID-19 fears’ prevent many Africans from accessing malaria treatment

Can vaccination and infection rates add up to reach Covid herd immunity?

Live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate shows protective efficacy in vivo

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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