It is understood that Me Too is a social movement against sexual abuse, etc, but I am borrowing “me too” as in the case of showing up saying, “I am here too”.  

This is the case of respiratory and enteric viruses in the past, current, and emerging as reported by agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) via the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS).

However, there are selected outbreaks worldwide.

In quick succession, we have witnessed HIV/AIDS (1980s to early 1990s), then came Coronavirus producing COVID-19 with various mutations. (First arriving in Jamaica 2020) and monkeypox virus says “me too”, arriving here in early July, 2022.

So, polio virus causing poliomyelitis says “I will not be left out”, so it showed up in New York (NY) in April 2022; the right place from which to hitch a ride on humans going in all directions across the world.

Viruses have a way of showing up in melting pots such as New York – where different people, styles, theories, etc, come together.

Countries and cities, large and small can be melting pots, connected by all means of transportation with people traversing across the world. Viruses love melting pots, infectious diseases love melting pots, foodborne diseases love melting pots. They love people. 

“Aint no stopping us now, we are on the move”.  Yes, poliomyelitis (polio) is on the move, as the air and sea transport move.

JAMAICA, HERE I COME

COVID-19 came, monkeypox came, polio has Jamaica in its line of sight. It is just a matter of time so we must be prepared for it as we prepare for any other highly transmissible viral or other disease. It is fortuitous that the protocols for the coronavirus prepared us for monkeypox and also polio. Everyone is at risk, and particularly unvaccinated persons, when exposed to the virus.

The symptoms are similar – flu-like and intestinal, depending on the level of infection and stages of mutation of virus. Included are fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, and intestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhea.

This is no time for home remedies, these conditions are best diagnosed by your healthcare provider as you may mistake or miss the symptoms including nerves and muscular disorders.

Like COVID-19, polio is not to be messed with, refrain from self-managing the symptoms in yourself, particularly children and others in your space.  The causes of the symptoms, transmission of the virus and treatment are for health professionals.

Jamaica’s history of dealing with poliomyelitis is well documented by scholars such as Dr Deanna Ashley, (D. Ashley et al.  Disasters, 1985, June) among others. The paper traced the history of epidemics of poliomyelitis in Jamaica from 1954-1982.

“The Government’s policies and strategies for immunisation demonstrates that preventative intervention through immunisation is cheaper and preferable to crisis management caused by epidemics.”

The paper also posits that “the evaluation of the social and economic costs of the 1982 poliomyelitis epidemic in Jamaica provides conclusive evidence in support of preventative intervention”.

The foregoing is also true for COVID-19, which is up on us (still a keep), monkeypox in our midst and to stave off the resurgence of poliomyelitis – New York is only a flight away. 

The bad news is, if we do not prepare – time flies.

“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” –  Winston Churchill.

• Audrey Hinchcliffe is CEO and founder, Manpower and Maintenance Services Ltd Group.