03/10/2026
What is polio or poliomyelitis?
Polio is a viral infection that spreads mainly from sewage water and contaminated persons
In some cases, it can affect the nervous system and cause permanent paralysis and death. There is no treatment or cure, which is why prevention through vaccination is essential.
The good news: the polio vaccine is very safe and highly effective.
Are vaccinated people protected?
Yes. If you are up to date with the polio vaccine schedule, you are protected.
This protection applies in everyday life and when traveling.
Thanks to widespread vaccination, polio has been eradicated in most of the world. Today, wild polio remains endemic in only two countries, while most regions — including Europe and the Americas — are considered polio‑free.
Occasionally, poliovirus may be detected in other countries, often related to lower vaccination rates or vaccine‑derived strains. This does not mean those countries are polio‑endemic. Maintaining high vaccination coverage is what keeps communities protected.
When vaccination rates drop, community protection weakens. This makes it possible for rare cases or detections to appear — not because the vaccine doesn't work, but because fewer people are vaccinated.
High vaccination coverage keeps polio from spreading.
