title: "Do not eat those apples; they've been on the ground!": polio epidemics and preventive measures, Sweden 1880s-1940s.
abstract: This article will address how Swedish scientists, physicians and public health officers tried to combat the polio epidemics in the pre-vaccine era. It shows that once polio was considered as an epidemic disease the preventive measures used were based on the hindrance of other infectious diseases. It also illustrates how epidemiological and laboratory studies to some degree affected the thoughts of how polio should be prevented, and that Swedish ideas and experiences differed from those put forward in the USA.
authors.affiliation: Umeå Univ., Sweden
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Axelsson
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006920:Hygiene / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000266:history; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history; D015980:Public Health Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D012499:Sanitation; D012586:Science / Q000193:education / Q000266:history; D013548:Sweden / Q000208:ethnology; D014773:Virology / Q000193:education / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines