Many compare the coronavirus epidemic to polio from the 40s and 50s

[question everything]

Interesting, though, that polio attacked mostly healthy children, while the coronavirus goes after the elderly.

[rurallib]

1. Those who are elderly now were the children in the 40s and 50s

that were so scared of polio.
I am one of them and was thinking that very thought yesterday.

[0rganism]

2. like grisly bookends on existence

polio as children
covid-19 as seniors

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I have friend with post-polio syndrome, cardiopulmonary issues, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. I am

very worried for her, her husband, and my FIL (who is also fragile.)

[rurallib]

10. One of my wife's uncles had the post-polio syndrome

that is truly tough.

[katmondoo]

3. 1935 was a very bad for polio. My brother was 5 and had polio about 1935 or 36. I didn't get it.

I was a year younger and followed him everywhere, we slept in the same room and what he did I did. He passed young from an enlarged heart caused by the polio. He was paralyzed from the neck down. He recovered all but the use of his left arm.

[question everything]

5. Sad story. I am sure you still feel the loss

I got it in 1949 or 1950. Don't remember much, am not even sure what was affected, the bladder, I think. I never asked my parents. And so far... touch wood.

Years later, in virology class in college, the teacher commented how viruses, being parasites, search for healthy cells that can sustain them and, therefore, healthy children was infected...

[maxrandb]

4. My dad had polio as a child in the 30's

It cost him the use of his leg and he had to wear a brace for the rest of his life.

I learned a lot about empathy, compassion and dealing with adversity from him.

In fact, I think he described Moscow Mitch with one of the things he told me.

He said; when you have a disability, it can cause you to become more understanding and more compassionate, or it can cause you to blame the world and be consumed with hatred, vitriol, self-pity and loathing.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Post ww2

we had several Viral Infections make their way across our Country. Polio started a replay in 1946 and lasted into the early fifties. Chicken Pox,Red and German Measles,whooping cough,and Mumps came home with the returning Troops from Eourpe and Asia.

Quarantine was the norm for many Families. County Air Raid Wardens were recruited to be the new Quarantine Wardens as well as County Nurses in a effort to control these Virus's. Do recall Returning Army Cor-men were pressed into emergency front line Doctors without License in a effort to identify those who are or may be infected . The worst part was the Physical damage to the bodies of those whom suffered the most.

[question everything]

8. Right, had all of them. No vaccines then

As soon as I recovered from polio I got whooping cough.

Must have been a strong child..

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Wisconsin embarked on a

100% vaccination program for all School Children in 1949. Because we were still in a Agricultural Base economy,do remember this was a on going effort for a couple years.