How is Polio Transmitted?
Polio happens when Humans fecals gets into water, food, toys and then other humans eat it or drink it. That is why Polio is a fecal-oral transmitted disease. Poliovirus only infects humans. It is very contagious and spreads by person-to-person contact. The virus lives in an infected person’s throat and intestines. It enters the body through the mouth and spreads through contact with the feces (poop) of an infected person. It can also pass through droplets from a sneeze or cough even though this is less common. You can get infected with poliovirus if you have feces on your hands and you touch your mouth. Also, you can get infected if you put in your mouth objects like toys that are contaminated with feces.
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When Can an Infected Person Spread Polio?
An infected person can spread Polio to other people immediately before and about 1 to 2 weeks after symptoms appear. The virus can live in an infected person’s feces for many weeks. It can contaminate food and water in unclean conditions and areas. People who don’t have symptoms can still pass the virus to others and make them sick.