Poliomyelitis

From Turtledove

Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease which is spread from person-to-person via the fecal-oral route. The majority of polio infections are asymptomatic. In about 1% of cases the virus enters the central nervous system (CNS) via the blood stream. Within the CNS, poliovirus preferentially infects and destroys motor neurons. The destruction of motor neurons causes muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis.

An ancient disease, polio was first recognized as a medical entity by Jakob Heine in 1840. In the early part of the twentieth century, the United States, and much of the world, were experiencing a huge increase in the number of polio cases.

Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from poliomyelitis in his youth and lost the use of his legs as a result.

[edit] Poliomyelitis in "Hindsight"

Pete Lundquist was afraid his sons, Carl and Wayne, would be exposed to poliomyelitis after playing with the neighbors, and so ordered them to wash up when they came home.

[edit] Poliomyelitis in Southern Victory

Many Philadelphia insiders, including Flora Blackford, believed that if not for his poliomyelitis, Assistant Secretary of War Franklin D. Roosevelt might have become president.

[edit] Poliomyelitis in Worldwar

In spite of his poliomyelitis, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States.