Transmissions
Poliovirus is very contagious. The virus lives in an infected person’s throat and intestines. It spreads through contact with the feces (stool) of an infected person and through droplets from a sneeze or cough. You can get infected with polio if you have stool on your hands and you touch your mouth. Also, if you put objects, like toys, that have stool on them into your mouth, you/your baby can get infected. An infected person may spread the virus to others immediately before and usually 1 to 2 weeks after developing symptoms. The virus may live in an infected person’s feces for many weeks. It can contaminate food and water when people do not wash their hands. This is why in places like Africa and Afgaistan alot of people have this deases because it is hard to find clean water to wash your hands in.