Polio - a word close to my heartRecent Posts A unique salesman (April 2012) Memories from a week-end markets day (Easter Sunday 2012) Polio - a word close to my heart (Jan 2012) Elephants chasing my Jeep (Oct 2011) Cotton tree in my backyard (Sept 2011) 
Polio - a word close to my heartI have been following the news of ‘Polio free India’ in the last few days. 12 January 2012 marked one year of Polio free India. How wonderful is that. Being a victim of Polio myself it is natural for me to get emotional about this beautiful news.
When I was 2 years old, I got infected by Polio virus. I lived in Agra with my Mum and Dad and sisters and brother. I have no memory of my childhood at that time and what I am writing here is what my Mum and Dad have told me. Polio virus was heard to be spreading in Agra that year and hospitals had run out of vaccination. My mother tells me that I was playing in the muddy rain water with my brother outside one day and possibly got infected. I fell sick the same night with high fever which turned out to be Polio virus. Doctors had told my Mum and Dad that I will not survive. They didn’t give up and neither did my GP. I was in and out of the hospital for six months wrapped in cotton secluded from everyone.
Luckily I was blessed and cured mostly. I learnt to walk and write again and became a left hander as polio had affected my right arm and left leg. A strange combination in my opinion!
My earliest memories come from the time I used to wear ugly high shoes to the school and used to get tired very quickly. I remember my father carrying me in his arms even when I was in primary school. I have memories of exercise routines that were forced on me when all I wanted to do was play with my dog. My loving Mum and Dad never gave up on me and I was able to walk and work like everyone else. Interestingly my recovery was such that from outside mostly no one can tell.
 About PolioPoliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system. Even those who do not show any symptoms can excrete the virus, thereby spreading the infection. Acute Flaccid Paralysis is a disabling condition where there is absence of muscle tone in one or both limbs, and tendon reflexes. While no ‘cure' exists for polio, the oral polio vaccine prevents the transmission of infection effectively.
Polio in AustraliaWe in Australia have been free of Polio for decades however the support is needed. Polio Australia does a great job in informing people. They were really good in sending me information related to late effects of Polio when I was in my 30s and I had started facing some unexplained health challenges. Polio Australia
History of Polio in IndiaRead here...
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