A person infected by the polio virus carries the virus in the intestinal tract as well in the mucus secreted by the nose and throat. While most of the transmission of poliomyelitis occurs through the fecal-oral route when an uninfected person comes in contact with the feces of an infected person; a person can also get poliomyelitis when he or she comes in contact with the nasal or oral mucus of an infected person. (See Reference 1) The latter kind of transmission is referred to as oral-oral transmission.

As mentioned, most of the times, poliomyelitis infection occurs by coming in contact with the feces of an infected patient. This contact can occur in one of the following ways:

• Consuming food or drinking water or other liquids that are tainted with the polio virus. It has been seen that the virus is often present in sewage water.
• Touching objects and surfaces that are contaminated with the virus and thereafter inserting the fingers into the mouth.
• Sharing utensils and food with a person who is infected with the polio virus.

However, at times, the virus can also be contracted when an infected person ends up coughing or sneezing. The droplets that emerge while coughing or sneezing contain the virus and these can be inhaled by an uninfected person. Also, when the droplets settle on surfaces and an uninfected person touches those surfaces and puts his or her fingers into the mouth, or touches the eyes or throat, the virus enters into the body and causes poliomyelitis. (See Reference 1)

Once the virus enters the body, the person will not show the symptoms immediately. The virus will initially travel in the body. It will go to the back of the throat, nose as well as the intestines. Once this occurs, the virus begins to multiply and then spread to other parts of the body. Generally, it has been seen that the symptoms of the disease occur after seven to fourteen days of getting exposed to the virus. (See Reference 1) However, it has also been noticed that the incubation period for the virus in some people can be around 4 days, and in others the incubation period can extend to up to 35 days. (See Reference 1) Only after the incubation period do the symptoms of poliomyelitis manifest in the infected person. Thereafter, the infected person has the ability to transmit the virus to others around him or her. And, the entire cycle of infection begins and newer cases of the disease emerge.

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• What Is Poliomyelitis ?
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• Prevention Of Poliomyelitis
• History Of Poliomyelitis
• Who Discovered The Cure For Polio ?