A mostly silent gut infection that can paralyse a small share of those infected. Explore its illustrative 3D model, human context, and sources.
CDC states that most people infected with poliovirus have no visible symptoms, while about 1 in 4 have flu-like symptoms and a smaller proportion develop illness affecting the brain and spinal cord. WHO describes polio as mainly affecting children under 5, with one in 200 infections leading to irreversible paralysis. This profile covers the three poliovirus serotypes as a group.
CDC states paralysis occurs in about 1 in 200 to 1 in 2,000 people with poliovirus infection depending on virus type, and that between 2 and 10 out of 100 people paralysed by poliovirus die because the virus affects the muscles used for breathing. WHO gives one in 200 infections leading to irreversible paralysis, with 5–10% of those paralysed dying. These are population proportions, not an individual prediction.
Poliovirus · non-enveloped icosahedral particle. One representative poliovirus particle; serotypes and small surface canyons are not resolved. The colours, proportions, protein shapes and visible counts are illustrative, not measured or an atomic reconstruction. Independent scientific review remains pending.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.