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The 1952 polio epidemic in the United States was the worst in the country's history, with 57,628 cases reported, 3,145 deaths, and 21,269 cases of mild to disabling paralysis. The epidemic had a devastating impact, filling large hospital wards with patients on respirators, and many survivors faced lifelong consequences.
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History of polio - Wikipedia
In the United States, the 1952 polio epidemic was the worst outbreak in the nation's histo...
The epidemic heightened public awareness of the need for a polio vaccine, and in 1955, the first poliovirus vaccine became available. Jonas Salk's inactivated vaccine, followed by Albert Sabin's live-virus vaccine, were so effective that by 2002, there were no new cases of polio in the United States.
Polio is a disabling and sometimes fatal disease that's transmitted through contact with people, usually via nasal and oral secretions or contaminated feces. Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, and limb pain. One in 200 infections lead to irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs, and 5 to 10 percent of those paralyzed die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
During the 1950s epidemic, communities struggled to understand how polio spread because it could be transmitted without symptoms, and families were often separated during the early stages of the disease. This contributed to intense fear of the disease, which led to the closure of public places like schools, churches, theaters, and swimming pools. Some people also avoided crowds and public gatherings.
During the 1950s epidemic, communities struggled to understand how polio spread because it could be transmitted without symptoms, and families were often separated during the early stages of the disease. This contributed to intense fear of the disease, which led to the closure of public places like schools, churches, theaters, and swimming pools. Some people also avoided crowds and public gatherings.