Final answer:
The main route of transmission of the poliovirus is through food and water, also known as the fecal-oral route, involving ingestion of contaminated substances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main route of transmission of the poliovirus is food and water (fecal-oral route). By understanding its transmission pathway, we learn that after entering the body through the mouth, the poliovirus replicates within the pharynx and gastrointestinal tract. Even though individuals infected with poliovirus can have virus present in their throat and can shed the virus in stool, the most common way the virus spreads is via the fecal-oral route, which typically involves ingestion of contaminated food or water.
This means that poliovirus can be transmitted from person-to-person when an uninfected person ingests food or water that has been contaminated with feces containing the virus. As the virus sheds in the feces of an infected person, poor sanitation and hygiene practices can facilitate its spread. Notably, in some cases, poliovirus can lead to severe health issues like flaccid paralysis and, in extreme cases, respiratory failure.