Alert Over Polio Discovery in Melbourne

Via News.com.au -

A national health alert has been issued, particularly for airline passengers, after a 22-year-old Pakistani man was diagnosed with polio, the first case reported in Australia since 1986.

The student, who suffered poliomyelitis symptoms after holidaying in Pakistan this month, has recovered from the debilitating disease but he is being isolated from the Melbourne community.
Victoria's chief health officer Dr John Carnie said the man was admitted to Box Hill Hospital after complaining of symptoms.

Polio symptoms include fever, vomiting and muscle stiffness and if it progresses to a major illness, severe muscle pain and stiffness of the neck and back with flaccid paralysis.
“While he had initial symptoms consistent with polio they have now resolved and his condition has continued to improve,” Dr Carnie said.

“He will be kept in isolation as a precautionary measure until he returns successive negative test results for polio.

“Test results tonight from the National Poliovirus Reference Laboratory in Melbourne confirmed the presence of the polio virus.”

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Dr Carnie said the risk to health care workers was “very low”.

“All staff who had contact with the patient will also be screened appropriately,” he said.

All Australian hospital emergency departments have been alerted to look out for symptoms of polio. Dr Carnie said the passengers on the flight were considered to be at low risk of contracting the polio.

However, it is a highly infectious disease and it is appropriate to take precautionary measures, he said.