Poliomyelitis
Alternate name: Polio
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Fact sheet - Health conditions directory
Poliomyelitis (or polio) is an infection caused by polioviruses. Most infections cause mild disease, however, the virus can affect the cells of the central nervous system causing paralysis. Following the introduction of polio vaccine there has been a dramatic decrease in polio infection in Australia. In 2000, the Western Pacific region including Australia was certified as polio free by the World Health Organization. However, until polio is eradicated from the rest of the world, it is still important for Australia to maintain high vaccination rates as there is an ongoing risk of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated travellers acquiring polio in countries where it is still present.
Public health management guidelines
- Read Queensland Health guidelines for public health units
- Read Poliomyelitis Outbreak Response Plan for Australia
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Attending medical practitioners/medical superintendents (or delegates)
Public health units
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Case report form (PDF, 345kB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Resources for health professionals
Immunisation
- Immunisation information for health professionals – Queensland Health website with information about the Queensland immunisation schedule, registration and qualification, vaccine service providers, the School Immunisation Program, vaccinations for the healthcare workers and contact information.
- Australian immunisation handbook - provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
