1954 Johannesburg outbreak

During an outbreak of poliomyelitis in Johannesburg from August 1954 to March 1955, there were fourteen reported cases of atypical poliomyelitis.

Onset
Onset was typically abrupt, often with severe headache.

Symptoms
Symptoms included:


 * No fever or low-grade fever.
 * Stiffness of the neck and back
 * Myalgia and muscle weakness
 * Facial weakness
 * Paraesthesia in some cases

Findings

 * Normal blood
 * Normal or slightly raised sedimentation rate
 * Normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure (below 50 mg. %)
 * Negative for poliovirus, Coxsackie, Rickettsia, and infectious mononucleosis

Epidemiology
The youngest was eight years of age and the oldest, 47, with the majority of patients in their 20s and 30s. Seventy-two percent of cases were female.

Prognosis
In three cases, there was relapses within weeks of discharge from the hospital.