Polio in North America: The 1940s and 1950s
In the first half of the 20th century, polio was one of the most dreaded illnesses in North America. Before the epidemics became frequent, there had already been outbreaks in the United States: the first occured in Vermont in 1894, when 134 people contracted the virus. (Encyclopedia of Global Health, 2008.)
In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks happened almost every summer-- warm months were dubbed "polio season." Children were the most at risk, with the highest susceptibility between the ages of 1-16 years. (Encyclopedia of Global Health, 2008.)
In the absence of general knowledge about polio, parents were cautioned to keep their children from getting "chilled" and avoid unfamiliar people (Science News Letter, 1951). At one point, it was rumoured that stray cats caused the polio epidemics each summer, and later it was believed that mosquitos or rats could be the cause (Kluger, 2005).
In the early 1950s, about 21,000 children developed polio each year (Roberts, 2004).
Although the majority of polio cases occurred in children, at its peak about 35% of people with polio were adults. In 1933, the United States elected Franklin D. Roosevelt, a man with polio, as president. He founded the March of Dimes in 1938 in order to support children with polio. (Encyclopedia of Global Health, 2008.)
Polio continued to be a threat in North America until two different vaccines were developed for it: Salk's injectable vaccine and Sabin's oral vaccine.
In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks happened almost every summer-- warm months were dubbed "polio season." Children were the most at risk, with the highest susceptibility between the ages of 1-16 years. (Encyclopedia of Global Health, 2008.)
In the absence of general knowledge about polio, parents were cautioned to keep their children from getting "chilled" and avoid unfamiliar people (Science News Letter, 1951). At one point, it was rumoured that stray cats caused the polio epidemics each summer, and later it was believed that mosquitos or rats could be the cause (Kluger, 2005).
In the early 1950s, about 21,000 children developed polio each year (Roberts, 2004).
Although the majority of polio cases occurred in children, at its peak about 35% of people with polio were adults. In 1933, the United States elected Franklin D. Roosevelt, a man with polio, as president. He founded the March of Dimes in 1938 in order to support children with polio. (Encyclopedia of Global Health, 2008.)
Polio continued to be a threat in North America until two different vaccines were developed for it: Salk's injectable vaccine and Sabin's oral vaccine.