Polio
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Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system, causing paralysis and difficulty breathing.
Widespread use of the polio vaccine has caused polio to be eliminated from many parts of the world. In 2009, polio continues to occur in parts of India and Africa.
In 1994, Canada was certified as a “polio free” country, along with the rest of the Americas. Within the last 30 years, the only polio cases in British Columbia were non-vaccinated residents who had contact with polio-infected visitors from another country. |
Last Updated: January 14, 2010