Polio was first described in Egypt around 1580-1350BCE. In 1916 was when it effected the United States with 27,000 cases with >6,000 deaths in those almost all under the age of 5. It is unclear how it is spread. This epidemic created panic because of death and disability. There were the Iron Lung for those who could not breathe on their own and had a machine do the breathing for them. There are two polio vaccine at the moment!! One is IPV where there are no 'live' vaccine and OPV where it is the 'passive' immunization and an oral administration. This disease causes infantile paralysis and leaves <1% suffering from permanent paralysis where 5-10% of those who are paralyzed die due to respiratory failure. The risk of death from polio increases with age.
