Polio survivor

By Kelly Yates
Barbara Watson, who has been living in Narre Warren South for more than seven years, caught polio at the age of 14.
“It was a scary time when I contracted the disease. I started with flu symptoms, headaches, nausea and then certain parts of my body became paralysed,” she said.
“I was placed in an isolation ward for three weeks and my parents could not visit me.”
The 71-year-old Polio Network Victoria member said polio, which is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person via the faecal-oral route, changed her life.
Ms Watson, who is on the City of Casey’s access and ability and grants committees, is forced to use a wheelchair and walker to get around as she now suffers from Post Polio Syndrome.
“It’s debilitating as I get chronic fatigue, muscle pains and I can’t do a day’s work,” she said.
Ms Watson said children aged from two months could be immunised.
“Parents need to get their children immunised so they don’t end up like me,” she said.
Ms Watson visits her specialist every three months for ongoing treatment and often speaks to students at schools on the importance of polio immunisation.
“Polio has not been eradicated. It’s still rampant in endemic countries in 2008, the worst being India,” she said.
For more information visit www.polionetworkvic.asn.au