Is poliomyelitis a genetically-determined disease? I: A genetic model

The 1916 New York City Epidemic of Poliomyelitis: Where did the Virus Come From?

“…In New York there had been 8,900 cases of paralysis with 2,448 Very few children who had been present during the previous 1907 epidemic were affected in 1916, suggesting that both were probably caused by type I poliovirus. The paralytic rate among the 2 and 3 yr olds approached 2%, the highest rate recorded for this age group anywhere in the world [2,3], with decreasing rates to about 9 yr olds suggesting that most children in 1907 had been infected.…”

“…Three other aspects were not noted at the time: the number of children age 2 yr affected was the highest ever recorded [2,3]; the case fatality rate of 25 % was the highest ever recorded (see below); the epidemic started in early May, well before the normal summer polio season.…”

Genetic Determinants of Virus Susceptibility: Epidemiologic Implications of Murine Models

“…Studies correlating paralysis with HLA phenotype have generated inconsistent results (72,73). Taking a different approach, Wyatt (91,92) has reviewed virgin soil outbreaks. In some instances, the case:infection ratio has been as high as 1:4, and Wyatt has argued that this bespeaks a high frequency of alleles for susceptibility at a putative "poliomyelitis locus."…”

Los Orígenes De La Rehabilitación: Entre La Guerra Y La Polio

“…Se cree que la epidemia contabilizó más de 5.000 muertes a través de Nueva Inglaterra alcanzando Delaware, Maryland y el Distrito de Columbia con casos en Vermont y Canadá. Dicha epidemia alcanzó la tasa de fatalidad más alta jamás registrada en un brote de polio (Wyatt, 2011) y al mismo tiempo, entre niños de dos y tres años la tasa de parálisis alcanzó el 2%, la más alta registrada para este grupo etario en cualquier otra parte del mundo (Wyatt, 1975).…”