Acute poliomyelitis

**Definition:** A disease of the nervous system, caused by human poliovirus. This disease commonly presents with a fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, or stiffness of the neck and back. This disease may present with an acute onset of flaccid paralysis. Transmission is commonly by the faecal-oral route or direct contact. Confirmation is by identification of poliovirus in a faecal sample or by a lumbar puncture.