an acute infectious viral disease, esp affecting children. In its paralytic form (acute anterior poliomyelitis) the brain and spinal cord are involved, causing weakness, paralysis, and wasting of muscle
Often shortened to: polio. Also called: infantile paralysis
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek polios grey + muelos marrow
Examples of 'polio virus' in a sentence
polio virus
She also made important contributions to fighting the polio virus.
The Sun (2010)
That same year he contracted the polio virus, leaving him effectively hemiplegic.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The polio virus is fiendishly slippery, however.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Scientists who analysed 185 of his stool samples found they contained a live polio virus capable of causing paralysis.