What is the Polio Virus? Polio, short for Poliomyelitis, is a disease that is caused by a virus living in the throat and intestine. It killed many in the past before a vaccine was made. How is it spread? Polio is spread by human-to-human contact. If someone lives in or goes to an area that is or was recently infected with the polio virus and ingests water or food that was contaminated with the virus, there is chance of it spreading. What are the different types of polio? What are the symptoms? 1) Sub-clinical Polio: This is the most common type of polio. 95-99% of polio cases are sub-clinical. With sub-clinical polio, patients tend to experience no symptoms. There is also no effect on the brain or spinal cord. 2) Non-Paralytic Polio:This type of polio is hard to catch, since the symptoms are mild including sore throat, mild fever, headaches, vomiting or stomach pains which last only for a few days. 3) Paralytic Polio: This is the most rare, and the most severe, form of polio. The symptoms are more serious than sub-clinical and non-paralytic polio. These include muscle spasms, limb deformation, extreme discomfort, inability to move properly, loss of reflexes, paralysis (temporary or permanent) or death. How can I not get polio? Polio no longer spreads through the United States, however, some more underdeveloped countries are still infected. These countries have not yet found a cure, but in the US there is now a preventative vaccine. What are long-term effects of polio? With paralytic polio, the lasting symptoms can be paralyzation, inability to move a limb or joint properly, or death. In some cases, patients can feel these symptoms even up to 40 years after the virus is cured.