It is common knowledge that poliomyelitis or polio for short, can cause acute paralysis, and fortunately, global vaccination efforts have made the disease vanishingly rare in many places. But what is less talked about is what happens years or even decades after recovery from polio. Survivors of polio may develop an insidious condition known as Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). A light must be shone on this “long tail” of polio, because for many, the story doesn’t end after the immediate recovery.

Long-term consequences

The poliovirus attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis in some victims. Many survivors recover significantly, thanks to the nervous system’s capacity to “sprout” compensatory connections. However, decades later, that very compensation may

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