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The New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Health announced that poliovirus was detected in a sample of New York City wastewater.
Officials said the detections suggested a possible local circulation of the virus.
“For each identified case of paralytic polio, hundreds more may go undetected,” state health commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a statement. The detections are surprising, but not surprising, and state health departments are already working with local and federal partners on an urgent response to continue case investigations and actively spread the disease. evaluated to.”
“The risk to New Yorkers is real, but the defense is very simple: Get vaccinated against polio,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, New York City Health Director. “With polio prevalent in our communities, there is nothing more important than vaccinating children to protect them from this virus. Unvaccinated adults, choose to get vaccinated now, polio is completely preventable and its resurgence must be a call to action for all of us .”
Dangerous virus ‘community spread’ possibility increases fear of polio in New York
The announcement confirms a positive case of paralytic polio among residents of unvaccinated Rockland County, as well as detection in seven different wastewater samples from two adjacent counties north of New York City. It is the result of what has been done.
The department said these detections underscore the urgency of keeping all adults, including pregnant New Yorkers and children, up to date with the polio vaccine.
Wastewater monitoring efforts will continue in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most adults do not need the vaccine because they were already vaccinated during childhood, but those who have had only one or two previous doses should have the remaining doses.
Top health official: New York treats polio cases as ‘tip of iceberg’
People who have not been vaccinated or are unsure whether they have been vaccinated should receive a total of three doses if they start the vaccination series after age 4.
All children should receive four doses of the vaccine, with the first given between 6 weeks and 2 months of age.
New York City has seen a decline in recommended vaccination coverage since 2019, with nearly 14% of children not fully protected.
There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with vaccination.
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Polio is highly contagious and you can pass the virus without being sick.
It can take up to 30 days for symptoms to appear and can lead to paralysis and death.