Summary
Until the middle of the twentieth century, polio affected people all over the world. The disease, caused by a virus in the genus Enterovirus, often left its survivors with weakened muscles or varying degrees of paralysis. In their later years, many once-healthy survivors experienced a condition known as post-polio syndrome. Once effective vaccines were developed, polio was eradicated in the United States and other countries, although it still remains a threat in a few developing countries. Polio, Third Edition contains new illustrations and updated coverage of all aspects of this disease, including the latest vaccination information, world outbreak and immunization statistics, and a progress report on international efforts to eradicate polio.
Chapters include:
- The History of Polio
- The Transmission of Polio and How It Affects the Body
- Vaccines and How They Work
- Just When We Thought It Was Safe: Post-Polio Syndrome
- What Lies Ahead? The Future of Polio.
About the Author(s)
Alan I. Hecht, DC, is a practicing chiropractor in New York. He is also an adjunct professor of biology at Farmingdale State College, the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, and adjunct professor of Allied Health Sciences at Nassau Community College. He teaches courses in medical microbiology, anatomy and physiology, comparative anatomy, human physiology, human nutrition, and embryology. He is an adjunct associate professor of biology at Hofstra University where he teaches microbiology and is the course coordinator for Graduate Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Physics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
His current research interest is natural antibacterial substances effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. Dr. Hecht received his BS in biology–pre-medical studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. He received his MS in Basic Medical Sciences from New York University School of Medicine. He also received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in Brookville, New York. Dr. Hecht was the recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching from the State University of New York.