Risk of polio

The Beijing Center for Diseases Control and Prevention warned parents that Beijing is facing the threat of polio after recent outbreaks in foreign countries, the Beijing News reported.

Polio is an acute infectious disease that can lead to disability or even death. Although there has not been a recorded case of polio in Beijing for 29 years, the city still runs the risk of experiencing an outbreak of the disease. The disease spreads through contaminated food and water, and has an incubation period of up to 35 days. During this period, some patients can suffer from fatigue, nausea, fever or a sore throat, although most patients can show no symptoms.