Polio (vaccine-preventable)

Disease Information

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease. Polio has been eliminated from the United States thanks to widespread polio vaccination in this country. However, the virus has been brought into the country by travelers with polio. It takes only one traveler with polio to bring the disease into the United States. The best way to keep the United States polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) in the population against polio through vaccination.

Disease Reporting

What is required?

Health Care Providers and Clinical Laboratories

Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report cases and suspect cases of polio to local health departments immediately, day or night, after identification. Call 971-673-1111 to reach the state health department doctor on call.

• Health care providers: Use our secure web-based confidential reporting system – OR – use the confidential PDF reporting form.
• See How and Where to Report for more information and local health department contacts.

For Local Health Departments

For reportable diseases lacking Oregon-specific investigative guidelines or case report forms, please contact the epidemiologist on call for assistance at 971-673-1111.

See Also

• CDC's polio website
• CDC Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases - Polio chapter
• CDC "Pink Book" - Polio chapter (pdf)
• CDC Vaccine Information Statements (English only)
• CDC Vaccine Information Statements in other languages from the Immunization Action Coalition
• General information on vaccines from OHA