POLIOVIRUS

Virus name:

• Enterovirus poliovirus

Disease caused by poliovirus:

• Polio

Virus Structure:

Transmission of Virus:

• The polio virus lives in the throat and intestinal tract of infected person.
• It enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person.
• Objects, such as eating utensils, can also spread the virus.
• It can also be transmitted via fecal-oral-route (ingesting contaminated food and water).

Preventing transmission:

• Passive immunization
            ~ Hammon propsedthat the gamma goublin could be used to halt poliovirus infection, prevent diseaese, and reduce severity of disease in patients who had contracted   

                           polio.

• Vaccines
            ~ Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
            ~ Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)

Body cells being attacked:

• Poliovirus enters through the mouth, infecting the first (1st) cells it comes in contact with - - the pharnyx (throat) and intestinal mucosa.
• Depending on Polio type:
            1.) Paralytic Polio
                           ~ destroying motor neutron within spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex
                           ~ cell affected: neuronal cell
           2.) Spinal Polio
                           ~ virus invasion causes inflammation of nerve cells
           3.) Bulbar Polio
                           ~ virus invade and destroy nerves within the bulbar region of brain stem

Symptoms of being infected:

• Symptoms starts usually 7-14 days after the exposure to virus.
• The poliovirus attacks the nerve cells that control muscle movement. Many people infected with the virus have few or even no symptoms at all. Others have short-term symptoms such as headache, tiredness, fever, stiff neck and back, muscle pain, etc. More serious problem happens when the virus invades nerves in the brain and cause paralysis of muscle used in swallowing and breathing. Invasion of nerves in spinal cord can cause paralysis of arm, leg, or trunk.

How can a body defend itself?

• An infected person must prepare itself in obtaining immunizations (note: immunization lessens the injury but it can't cure the sickness at all).

Treatments/vaccines:

• THERE IS NO TREATMENT FOR POLIO! ONCE YOU HAVE IT, IT'S ALWAYS THERE! 
• ON THE OTHER HANDS, THERE ARE VACCINES!
            1.) Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
                            ~ made with a live but weakened virus
                            ~ protects vaccinated person directly
                            ~ protects other susceptible persons who are indirectly "vaccinated" as the vaccine virus spreads in the community
            2.) Inactivated Polio Vaccince (IPV)
                            ~ done by injection
                            ~ not as effective as OPV    

Fun facts:

• 1st polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk.
• Polio is diagnosed by blood test or culture.
• Poliomyelitis is derived from greek words 'polio,' 'myelon,' itis'
• Poliovirus is most popular during summer and fall.
• Not washing hands after going to the bathroom is one of the reasons of having polio.

By: Laurice Ang

      Block D

Poliovirus by:Tammy Lau | block.D

Scientific name:

• Enterovirus Poliovirus

Disease caused:

• Poliomyelitis

3 different types of poliomyelitis

1. spinal polio
2. bulbar polio
3. bulbospinal polio

Transmission:

• The virus is transmitted from human to human contact
• Usually transmitted when one ingests contaminated food or water
• The virus enters the body through the mouth

Structure:

Preventions:

• One can immunise themselves against poliomyelitis
• Use good sanitation
• Don't share food with people that are/may be infected of poliovirus

Attacked Body Cells:

• The nerve cell are attacked by the virus
• Most common area that the nerve cells are attacked is the spinal cord
• May also infect the brain stem, chest area, and causes skeletal deformation

Symptoms:

• slight fever
• soar throat
• headaches
• back pains
• neck pain
• leg pain
• muscle spasms
• breathnig difficulty

• symptoms usually start after 1 to 2 weeks of infection

How the Body Defends Itself:

• when one immunizes themselves against polio, their body produces disease fighting substances called antibodies.

Treatment:

• no treatment for poliovirus but there is a vaccine available:
  Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) - The vaccine prevents the spread of polio and protects those who recieve the vaccine from poliovirus

5 Interesting Facts:

1. Only 10% of the infections have symptoms
2. Mainly transmitts during summer and autumn
3. No cure for this virus
4. All 50 states have laws that require school children to be immunised against polio
5. It is "extinct" in North and South America

Poliovirus by Vanessa A   Block:C

Virus name (scientific):

    Enterovirus poliovirus

Disease or disorder caused by virus:

   It can cause Polio.

Description of Virus structure:

   Polio has a very simple structure. It consists of a single RNA genome which is

  surrounded by a protein shell called a capsid.

How is the virus transmitted?

     Polio is highly contagious. Particles belonging to the Polio virus are still found in feces of an infected

   person for several weeks after being infected. Polio is spread easily by the fecal-oral route, where people consume

   water or food which has been contaminated with infected feces. One example of how its spread is by not washing

  your hands after using the washroom, and then eating.

How can transmisson be prevented?

     Polio can be prevented by living in an area with good public sanitation, and good personal hygiene also helps to reduce

   the chances of the virus spreading. Having a healthy immune system, being well nourished, and being vaccinated for Polio

   also helps.

Describe the type of body cells attacked:

     Polio attacks the nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain.

What are the symptoms of infection?

     First phase where most cases of Polio only have mild symptoms such as:

            - mild fever

            - headache

            - sore throat

            - vomiting

• Mild cases of Polio usually revcover within 24-72 hours and most patients don't progress to phase 2
        

    Second Phase where there are more severe symptoms such as:

            - meningitis

            - fever

            - severe headache

            - stiff neck and back

            - muscle pain

     Very severe symptoms are:

            - muscle weakness

            - muscle paralysis

            - difficulty swallowing

            - difficulty breathing

            - repiratory paralysis

How does the body defend itself?

     The body creates antibodies to defend itself once being vaccinated with the Polio vaccine.

Are there any treatments/vaccines? If so, describe.

      People wil Polio virus can go for Symptomatic treatments for mild cases, however, Symptomatic treatments are general

   treatments which only relieve symptoms but don't treat the cause. Patients may also decide to be treated to Physiotherapy

  for ther muslces. Physiotherapy is therapy to improve muscles, joints, and other structures. Tube feeding is also offered for those

  with difficulty swallowing, and mechanical respiration for respiratory paralysis. In cases with Paralytic Polio, long term physio, braces,

  corrective shoes, or orthopedic surgery may be recquired. There are also two vaccines used to fight Polio. The first one, created by

  Jonas Salk, is an injection of a dose of dead poliovirus. Albert Sabin introduced an oral Polio vaccines where he used weakened

  poliovirus cells. These vaccines have helped reduce the number of Polio cases.

Interesting Facts:

         - the first major Polio epidemic struck New York City in July 1916 where 27,000 people became paralyzed and 9,000 died by the end

           of the summer.

         - evidence of Polio has been traced back to Ancient Egyptian engravings.

         - More than 80% of Polio victims are under the age of 15

         - According to doctors and Polio support groups: 40,000 Polio survivors with different stages of Paralysis live in Germany,

            24,000 in France, 12,000 in Canada, 30,000 in Japan, 16,000 in Australia, and 12,000 in United Kingdom

         - spreads more in summer and fall