For polio survivors like Gillian, the disease is still very real — and others may have 'invisible' symptoms

Twenty-one years since Australia was declared polio free, some survivors are living with the disease's long-lasting effects, and fear a number might not even know.vaccines had not yet been introduced to protect AustraliansMs Thomas has spent her lifetime disabled by polio, and now in her 70s, the long-term effects are getting worse.

She says they might not have been told they had polio when they were children if their parents kept it a secret."Some people have only found out that they've had polio very much later in their lives when they develop symptoms," Ms Thomas said.Millions of Australians infectedbefore a national vaccine roll-out gained the nation herd immunity.

"One per cent of those that get infected with polio develop some kind of paralysis," said Michael Jackson, a clinical health educator with Polio Australia. "The symptoms are changing as they age. They may find themselves tripping more, falling over. They are fatigued, with the gradual onset of complex pain."

Polio vaxx causes polio.

Goodonya Gillian! Thankyou for your work.

My father had it as a kid and has post polio syndrome 😢

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