Attention News/Health Editors:
TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - Canada-Wide - While the fight to eradicate
polio continues in the developing world - another battle against polio is
happening in the Canadian health care system as an increasing number of
Canadian immigrants are facing a second wave of polio called post-polio
syndrome right here at home.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, immigration to Canada has increased from
all corners of the globe, including countries where polio remains endemic.
This influx of polio survivors from countries such as Pakistan, India and some
countries in the Middle East and Africa has created a "second" wave of
survivors, according to Elizabeth Dean, a prominent post-polio researcher at
the University of British Columbia (UBC).
While many of these young children and adults thought they had left their
polio pasts behind them - at least half to three-quarters will unfortunately
develop post-polio syndrome.
"Many polio survivors who are immigrants to Canada may be unaware of the
potential that they may face the challenges of post-polio syndrome," says
Dean, who has seen a marked increase in the number of immigrants being
referred to her at the UBC Post Polio Clinic.
Today it is estimated that more than 125,000 Canadians have survived
polio. In the 1980s, medical science confirmed that many survivors will
develop post-polio syndrome later in life, a condition with symptoms including
fatigue, weakness, muscle atrophy, pain, and breathing and swallowing
problems.
Many health care professionals today have never experienced a polio
outbreak as Canada has been polio free for over 12 years.
"As the number of survivors seeking help for post-polio symptoms
increases, it is important that Canadian medical professionals are educated on
this condition," says Kim Dowds, Manager of Polio Canada, a national program
that works to educate and inform polio survivors and health care professionals
about polio and post-polio syndrome. "It is also critical that polio survivors
who come to this country are given the right information and the help they
need."
With March designated as Polio Awareness Month, the organization has
increased its efforts with a national campaign to educate the public about
post-polio syndrome.
Since its launch in 2003, Polio Canada and its National Polio Survivors
Network - a program of the Rehabilitation Foundation for Disabled Persons,
Canada, and operated by Ontario March of Dimes - has been educating and
informing health care professionals and polio survivors, offering them
resources on the late effects of polio and post-polio syndrome.
This June, the organization will celebrate the anniversary of the Salk
Vaccine by participating in the International Association for Biologicals
(IABs) Standardization Conference - Polio Vaccine: The First 50 Years and
Beyond. From June 5-7 over 200 scientists will be in Toronto to focus on polio
today and the solutions for tomorrow.
April 12, 1955 marked the announcement that the Salk vaccine was
officially declared safe and effective.
For information call 1-800-480-5903 or visit the Polio Canada Web site at
www.poliocanada.com
Polio Canada is the leading service provider of education, information
and peer support to polio survivors across Canada.