Australia was officially declared polio free in 2000 and there hasn’t been a case of the virus “in the wild” since 1972, but there are fears the crippling disease could be set to make a comeback.

A recent outbreak in PNG means it is at our doorstep while immunisation rates for the virus in the Gold Coast Hinterland have fallen below 80 per cent, while there have also been falls in Surfers Paradise, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

AMA Queensland vice president Chris Perry tells Mark if immunisation rates don’t improve and the virus finds its way here it could spread like wildfire.

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