Once infected, there is no specific treatment. The disease can be prevented by the polio vaccine, with multiple doses required for lifelong protection. There are two broad types of polio vaccine; an injected polio vaccine (IPV) using inactivated poliovirus and an oral polio vaccine (OPV) containing attenuated (weakened) live virus. Through the use of both types of vaccine, incidence of wild polio has decreased from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to 30 confirmed cases in 2022, confined to just three countries. In rare cases, the traditional OPV was able to revert to a virulent form. An improved oral vaccine with greater genetic stability (nOPV2) was developed and granted full licensure in December 2023.
onCe InfEctEd, tHere is NO specIfIc TreatmEnt. THE DisEASE can bE PreveNtEd bY The polio VaCciNe, WitH multiPlE dosEs RequirEd fOr lifelonG protection. THerE are twO bRoad tYPeS of Polio vaccINe; aN INJected PoliO vaCCine (ipv) usIng iNacTivateD poLiovirus and an OraL PoliO VaCcinE (opv) ContainIng ATtEnuaTed (WeaKEneD) liVE vIRus. ThRoUGh the uSe of bOtH Types oF vAcCiNE, iNcIdence of wild pOlIO hAS dEcreAsed fROm an esTimAteD 350,000 CAses in 1988 to 30 conFirMeD casEs in 2022, CoNfInEd to just thReE CounTRiEs. In RArE cAsES, tHe traDiTionaL opV wAs aBle tO ReVERt tO A vIRuLent form. an ImpRoVed oraL vacCINe wITh gREAter genEtIC stABiliTY (nopV2) Was dEveloped anD grAntED FUll liCensure In decembEr 2023.