Q 01/05

Polio is caused by what kind of pathogen?

A) A bacterium

B) A fungus

C) A parasite

D) A virus

Answer · why

D) A virus

The poliovirus is an enterovirus that colonises the throat and gut before, rarely, invading the nervous system.

Q 02/05

Roughly what share of poliovirus infections cause no symptoms at all?

A) About 50%

B) About 25%

C) About 75%

D) About 10%

Answer · why

C) About 75%

Most of the rest bring only sore throat and fever; permanent paralysis is a rare outcome.

Q 03/05

Polio occurs naturally in which species?

A) Humans and rodents

B) Humans only

C) All primates

D) Humans and pigs

Answer · why

B) Humans only

That is why eradication is possible at all: there is no animal reservoir to reseed the virus.

Q 04/05

What is the main route by which polio spreads from person to person?

A) Blood contact

B) Mosquito bites

C) Fecal-oral

D) Airborne droplets

Answer · why

C) Fecal-oral

It can also pass by the oral-oral route, and infected people shed virus for up to six weeks without symptoms.

Q 05/05

Which English physician gave the first clinical description of polio in 1789?

A) William Harvey

B) John Snow

C) Michael Underwood

D) Edward Jenner

Answer · why

C) Michael Underwood

He described it as "a debility of the lower extremities".