Question

How many Americans are still living in an iron lung because their diaphragm muscle was severely damaged by polio?

1) 1
2) 2
3) 4
4) About a dozen

Answer 1

About a dozen Americans still use an iron lung due to paralysis caused by polio. This condition persists from before the widespread use of Salk's polio vaccine, which now prevents polio in the majority of the population.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the number of Americans still dependent on an iron lung due to severe diaphragm muscle damage caused by polio. Although exact numbers can vary with time and reporting methods, it is believed that about a dozen individuals in the United States still require the assistance of an iron lung. This is largely because vaccination efforts have significantly reduced the incidence of polio worldwide, making the use of iron lungs today extremely rare. Those few who still use iron lungs do so because they suffered paralysis of the breathing muscles due to polio before the introduction of effective vaccines, such as the Salk's polio vaccine in the mid-20th century.