The Phases of Polio – Past, Present and Future

15/12/2004 0 Comments read Disability, Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

Canberra, 15.12.2004 (IPS): As developing countries move closer to polio eradication, the developed world is battling with ageing polio survivors experiencing post polio syndrome (PPS).

Many of the 40,000 Australians, who survived the polio epidemics of the twentieth century, are facing the threat of new disabilities. While they initially recovered and made the most of life with disability, today they are battling with profound fatigue, increasing muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, increased sensitivity to cold temperatures and sleeping, breathing or swallowing difficulties. These are all linked to the late-effects of polio or PPS.

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Condom on a Tree

02/06/2002 0 Comments read Features, Health & Science, Indigenous

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 02.06.2002 (Women’s Feature Service): In the remote Western Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing, an innovative scheme has helped in promoting safe sex amongst the Aboriginal community – hanging condoms on trees.

Working on the ‘community knows best’ principle, Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service (NCHS), a grassroots organization, began placing condoms in 300 cm-long PVC pipes and hanging them with wire hooks on river gum and eucalyptus trees – unique condom dispensers. The local people congregate for their evening drink and socializing under these trees. Eight containers were hung at Crossing Inn and another eight a few kilometres away – the two traditional meeting grounds for the community.

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Polio-like virus affecting Rainbow Lorikeets

30/07/2001 0 Comments read Environment & Development, Health & Science

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 30.07.2001 (WFS): A mysterious and devastating polio-like virus is affecting Rainbow Lorikeets in Australia. The bright hued, gregarious bird with a distinguishing blue head is unable to stand, fly or perch on contacting the disease.

Similar to Poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis in humans where a virus affects the nervous tissue, in the birds too, part of the nervous system is affected causing symptoms of paralysis.

With virtually nothing known about the `suspected viral polioencephalomyelitis’ in the birds, Dr Rosemary Booth, a veterinarian at the University of Queensland in Brisbane and Dr Karrie Rose, a pathologist at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney are carrying out intensive research to unravel the mysterious virus affecting the Rainbow Lorikeets.

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