Christian Rodriguez Aviles

Walden University
Public Health Biology (PUBH- 6170- 4)

Choose any disease except influenza for which a vaccine is relevant (either a vaccine
exists or is needed) and discuss how knowledge of immunology is applied to public
health policy, programs, and/or practice for that disease. You may not choose
influenza because it is the subject of week 7.

Include any applicable discussion on the historical context of the disease, focusing
on vaccination and eradication efforts.

I have chosen, Poliomyelitis, which is ordinarily known as Polio. Polio is a form of

enterovirus that normally attacks the nervous system. Poliovirus is extremely contagious
and is spread in a person-to-person manner, it can also be orally transmitted or through
feces. This virus lives and reproduces it self in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in
oropharynx and small intestine and is extremely resistant to very acidic conditions (low
pH) (http://www.cdc.gov). The incubation period ranges from around 3-35 days. When
Poliovirus is reproduced it normally attacks the lymphatic system, in term it will reach
the nervous system travelling through the bloodstream. The symptoms of Poliovirus may
vary from person to person, for example a person may be asymptomatic and can still
transmit the disease without knowing so. Furthermore one percent of the cases can end up
in paralysis and eventually death (mostly because of paralysis in the respiratory system).
Evermore a vast majority of Polio patients tend to recover, with regain of some muscle
function in the most severe cases. The most common paralysis caused by polio is spinal
paralysis; this causes asymmetrical paralysis in the limbs (http://www.ncirs.edu.au). The
mode in which this disease is transmitted makes it a real threat to the population at
general, but fortunately it can be prevented.

The first documented epidemic of Poliovirus was seen in Europe in the late 1700’s. In
almost a century later the first outbreak of Poliovirus was reported in the United States
(http://www.historyofvaccines.org). This unfortunate event leads to the development of a
vaccine for Poliovirus, in the mid 1900’s. It has been documented that the United Stated
have been polio free since 1980’s (http://www.vaccines.gov). In fact the it has been said
that the World Health Organization (WHO) is working on Polio eradication
(http://www.ncirs.edu.au). However it is not totally eliminated so that maintains public
health in alert for any new case. This epidemic could emerge anytime from various
sources: reversion of live attenuated oral vaccine virus to the virulent form, bioterrorism
or by someone that travels and acquire the virus in a country where is hasn’t been
eradicated (Jenkins, Modin 2006). The increase in air and sea travels nowadays makes
the eradication and control plan of any infectious disease difficult. Public Health in every
community should have a plan and funds for emergency cases if another infectious
disease reemerges and a massive spread occurs.

References

Jenkins P, Modin J. (2006). Decision analysis in planning for a polio outbreak in the
United States. Pediatrics 118 (2):611-8.

Polio. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/polio/#

Poliomyelitis. (2014). Retrieved from:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/polio.pdf

Poliomyelitis. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.ncirs.edu.au/immunisation/fact-

sheets/polio-fact-sheet.pdf

The history of Vaccines, Timeline. (2014). Retrieved from:

http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/timelines/polio