In Kazakhstan, for years of independence, the incidence of poliomyelitis decreased by 5 times

Due to the wide coverage of the population with vaccination, during the last 25 years the incidence of poliomyelitis in Kazakhstan has decreased by 5 times. Since 2011, not one case of poliomyelitis has been registered in the country, versus 5 cases in 1991 (the incidence rate per 100 thousand population was 0.03).

Poliomyelitis is an acute, highly infectious disease caused by a poliovirus. It affects the nervous system and in a matter of hours can lead to general paralysis.

The virus is transmitted from person to person, mainly by the fecal-oral route or, more rarely, through any common carrier of infection (eg, contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine.

Poliomyelitis affects mainly children under the age of 5 years. The first symptoms of the disease are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and pain in the limbs.

According to WHO, one of 200 cases of infection develops irreversible paralysis (usually the legs). 5-10% of such paralyzed people die due to the impending paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

Poliomyelitis is incurable, it can only be prevented by immunizing the population. Failure to vaccinate can lead to the accumulation of susceptible individuals and cause outbreaks.