Brazil has had 26,000 cases of polio from 68 to 89 and has not registered any cases for 30 years; understand | Welfare

• circulation of the virus in 23 countries in the last 3 years;
• the emergence of a case of the disease in Venezuela in June;
• the devastating effect of the disease in the country before its elimination, thanks to the vaccine.

There were 26,827 cases of infantile paralysis between 1968 and 1989 – when the last case was recorded in Paraíba. The 1970s recorded most cases. There was a peak in 1975 with 3,596 cases. Another year with many records was 1979, with 2564 infections.

Polio cases in Brazil (1968-1989)

The last case occurred in 1989 in Paraíba. This year, Brazil has recorded 35 cases

Source: Ministry of Health / GT_PFA / Polio / COVER / SVS / MS

The Ministry of Health records the figures as cases – but, for the I & # 39; Historian Dilene Nascimento, from Oswaldo Cruz (COC / Fiocruz), the data probably indicate the sequelae left by the disease.

"The data were recorded when there was a sequel, such as paralysis.For every sequela of polio, at least 99 other infections had occurred" – Dilene Nascimento (Casa Oswaldo Cruz).

"Until the first half of the 1980s, poliomyelitis had a high incidence in Brazil, contributing significantly to the high annual prevalence of physical sequelae observed during this period" – Ministry of Health. Health. more cases were recorded in the northeast and southeast – according to the proportion of the population in these states. Since 1989, when the last case was recorded, Brazil took another five years to stabilize the circulation of the virus: finally, the certificate of elimination was issued in 1994. It was issued to the country. all of the Americas by the World Health Organization. ]

How Poliomyelitis Vaccine is Available in Brazil

1. Today, the vaccine is offered all year round in all health posts. It's a historic feat, says the historian.
2. A child must take at least three doses of the vaccine to be immunized: 1st dose at 2 months; 2nd dose at 4 months; 3rd dose, 6 months
3. In addition, a booster shot is given at 15 months. In this reinforcement, two drops are given
4. The Ministry of Health conducts national campaigns each year, usually in the month of August, for mobilization. However, the vaccine can be applied at any time

Source: Ministry of Health / National Immunization Program

_________________________________________________________

Vaccination Against Measles and Vaccination

The Government is Now Trying to increase immunization coverage rates so that poliomyelitis does not suffer the same fate as measles, which started again after elimination. A combination of cases imported from Venezuela and unvaccinated Brazilians is contributing to an epidemic in northern Brazil.

For the historian of Fiocruz, poliomyelitis is strongly linked to the culture of vaccination in Brazil and its development. The eradication of the disease – and its dreaded after-effects – may have shaken the organization of vaccination here.

"When the polio vaccine arrived here, all the mothers wanted to be vaccinated." Everyone followed the vaccine, and the picture of the paralysis was very strong. "- Dilene Nascimento, historian

Polio cases in Brazil by region (1968-1989)

Source: Ministry of Health / GT_PFA / Polio / COVER / SVS

The earliest records come from the United States. Ancient Egypt; The first symptoms appear with the flu

Polio is caused by a virus and historians believe that the earliest recordings appeared in ancient Egypt during the 18th Dynasty (1580-1350 The main route of transmission is oral-fecal and, therefore, poor sanitary conditions are also badociated with a greater number of infections.

The polio virus lives in the intestines. Most infections are subclinical and have no symptoms.The basic picture of early symptoms is similar to influenza with fever and sore throat, but there is nausea, vomiting, constipation and pain abdom

Only 1% of those infected will develop the paralytic form of the disease, which can cause permanent sequelae and respiratory failure. According to Fiocruz, paralysis attacks asymmetrically the lower limbs, with only one limb affected.

Paralysis begins to be perceived with loss of strength in affected limbs and loss of reflexes.

Polio in Brazil and conquering the disease

In Brazil, the first cases were identified in an article published by Fernandes Figueira in 1911, reports Dilene Nascimento, historian of Casa de Oswaldo Cruz (COC / Fiocruz). "From the 1930s, major outbreaks began to appear in several states of Brazil."

The vaccine arrived in the 1950s – and the idea of ​​campaigning for a campaign was in 1971, says Dilene. "Previous vaccination campaigns were rare, each state having its own experience".

Dilene explains that childcare was precarious and that there was no idea of ​​vaccination available in health posts.

"There was no such idea of ​​health posts in Brazil." He had no SU, had no vaccine available all year, had no national campaign. "

" The control of polio was a victory for the health sector. In 1979, Dr. Waldyr Arcoverde entrusted the Ministry of Health with medical hygienists and many people experienced in the fight against vaccines and infectious diseases, and Brazil overcame this disease with experience and people volunteers, "says the historian.

At the time, more than one type of vaccine was being applied in the world. Brazil had two types of vaccine until it chose the oral vaccine, developed by researcher Albert Sabin, and received the recommendation of the World Health Organization and the World Health Organization. American Medical Association.

This is only after 1971 that a national campaign is implemented. Until this year, polio vaccination campaigns had suffered from distribution problems and were often abandoned.

The historian explains that the National Immunization Days were conducted with the indication to vaccinate all children under 5, from the 1980s.

"With these national days of vaccination, every year was "

Polio control, explains the historian, helped to structure the entire vaccination plan in the country. "We have had smallpox experience, but polio has brought vaccines into health centers and national campaigns," says Dilene.

In 1973, following the campaign against poliomyelitis, the National Immunization Program (NIP) was launched. It incorporated polio control and introduced multivaccination, including measles vaccine as a campaign strategy.