[The history of poliomyelitis in Norway--disease, society and patients]

Abstract

The first epidemic of poliomyelitis in Norway was reported in 1868. Over the course of the 20th century, a total of 23,000 cases of acute poliomyelitis were registered, and the disease caused much suffering and fear before vaccination was introduced in 1956. After 1960, treatment and rehabilitation facilities for polio patients were gradually converted to other uses. Today there are 5,000-10,000 persons with sequelae poliomyelitis in Norway, many of them suffering from late effects of poliomyelitis, so-called postpolio syndrome. Thus there is still a need for multidisciplinary services for these patients, even though the poliovirus could be eradicated in a few years' time.