Polio is a viral disease that affects the nervous system. The first major polio epidemic in the United States occurred in 1916. In the 1940s and 50s, polio outbreaks created frenzy, frightening parents and prohibiting travel from city to city within the United States. Some towns were quarantined to protect the public from affected individuals.

It reached a peak in 1952, when over 58,000 cases were reported, including 3,145 deaths (Salk Institute, 2012). However, the CDC reports, “thanks to effective vaccine, the United States has been polio-free since 1979” (Source: HealthLine, CDC, 2011).