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Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. The poliovirus enters the body through the mouth, multiplies in the intestine and if it invades the central nervous system, can lead to irreversible paralysis. Polio can infect people of any age who are susceptible.
The polio vaccine of choice in the UK is IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) and as a result batch release of live attenuated OPV is no longer carried out at NIBSC for UK release. However, OPV is still used worldwide and NIBSC does play an integral part in the control testing of this vaccine for the World Health Organisation, this role is vital to the Polio eradication programme.
There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented.
Polio vaccines can protect a child for life.