Mexico Maintains Polio-Free Status Through Vaccination Efforts

October 24 marks World Polio Day, highlighting global efforts to eliminate poliomyelitis and honoring Jonas Salk, who developed the first inactivated polio vaccine. Mexico has been polio-free since 1994, when the World Health Organization officially declared the country free of the disease. The last reported case of polio in Mexico occurred in 1990 in Jalisco.

Polio is a highly contagious disease transmitted through food or water contaminated with fecal matter carrying the poliovirus, according to Ministry of Health (SSA). The infection can cause permanent paralysis or be fatal. Nancy Edith Justiniani, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Mexico’s General Hospital, emphasized that prevention through vaccination is the most effective way to combat polio. In Mexico, the vaccine is administered to infants at two, four, six, and eighteen months of age to provide full immunity.

Symptoms of poliomyelitis usually appear seven to fourteen days after the virus enters the body. These include general malaise, fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and notably, weakness in the legs. Early detection of these symptoms is essential for prompt diagnosis and intervention. If left untreated, polio can lead to permanent paralysis, limb deformities, muscle atrophy, or even death.

To reduce infection risks, healthcare experts recommend maintaining proper hygiene by washing food, avoiding consumption in unhygienic places, and using safe water for cooking and drinking.

As part of its public health campaign, the Ministry of Health urges families to ensure children are vaccinated against polio at nearby health centers. This initiative is critical for maintaining Mexico’s polio-free status and protecting future generations.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched by the World Health Assembly in 1988. Led by national governments and organizations like the WHO, Rotary International, the CDC, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the initiative aims to eliminate polio worldwide. World Polio Day emphasizes these ongoing efforts and recognizes those working on the frontlines to eradicate the disease.