A Serologic and Clinical Survey of Poliomyelitis in Caracas, Venezuela, and Galveston, Texas, and the Response to Salk Vaccine

Abstract

Children who attend free medical clinics in Caracas acquire polio-virus antibodies at an early age and clinical poliomyelitis is relatively rare and endemic in type. Clinic children in Galveston acquire antibodies at a somewhat slower rate but in contrast the Galveston children of university staff members acquire antibodies at a very slow rate. In Galveston poliomyelitis is epidemic in type and seasonal outbreaks of epidemic proportions have occurred in 7 of the last 10 years. In Caracas 85% of cases are in children under 4 years of age while in Galveston 33% of cases occur in this age group. Antibody response to Salk vaccine was good in all 3 population groups and in all age groups, emphasizing the value of the vaccine to those groups who need it most.