Poliomyelitis better known as Polio, is a virus that enters the body orally. Meaning, through the person's mouth. Many Poliomyelitis infections have little to no symptoms. Poliomyelitis is not known to cause any major illnesses. The one thing this virus does cause is paralysis of the spinal cord. Results from the paralysis could be fatal. Poliomyelitis was first discovered in 1840. This infection was an epidemic in the 19th and early 20th century. This infection has caused deaths and paralysis until scientists found Poliomyelitis prevention. Children were the most infected by the virus until Poliomyelitis prevention was used effectively.
By the 1960s, Poliomyelitis prevention was created. Two vaccines were introduced and by 1965, the number of Poliomyelitis cases dramatically dropped. In 1960, 2,525 cases were reported. In 1965, they were only 61 cases of Poliomyelitis. The last occurrence of this virus was in 1979. Two Poliomyelitis prevention steps were taken in the 1950s to treat this virus. The first being a "passive immunization". Passive immunization was introduced in 1950 by William Hammon. He used blood plasma from people that survived Poliomyelitis and used a gamma globulin. The gamma globulin contained antibodies to the virus that reduce the risk of infection.
Passive immunization was labeled as an abysmal failure. Scientists deemed the treatment "impractical" because blood plasma of those infected with Poliomyelitis was very limited. Scientists later developed the Poliomyelitis prevention vaccines that are commonly used. The Salk Vaccine and Sabin Vaccine. Salk vaccine was created in 1952 and the Sabin vaccine was created in 1962. 99% of recipients of this form of Poliomyelitis prevention were immune to this infection. It is very effective and after three doses, the antibodies will protect your immune system. These vaccines have been the most successful vaccines to ever be administered ever for an infection.