On Friday 9th September, New York City Governor, Kathy Hochul announced a disaster emergency in response to Polio control. As the Poliovirus has been detected in various areas of New York city and counties of Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and the latest, Nassau, the officials took the step of declaring a state of emergency over polio.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what caused the outbreak and why officials felt the need to take such drastic measures.
New Yorkers: Make an appointment now to get the new, Omicron-specific booster!
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 9, 2022
Getting vaccinated and staying up to date on booster doses is the best way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19.
For details on eligibility, appointments, and more: https://t.co/CVLsdGQs16
Locations where Poliovirus detected!
This is the first time in nearly a decade that the virus has been detected in the US, and health officials are working hard to contain its spread. So far, the virus has been found in the wastewater of three counties in the New York City area: Rockland county, where the first case was identified in July; Orange county, Sullivan where more samples were found positive recently; and now the latest case was found in Nassau.
POLIO UPDATE: Following a polio case in Rockland Cty, new wastewater samples detect the virus in Rockland & Orange Cty, evidence of local transmission & potential spread. To be polio-free, adults & children should be up to date with polio immunizations: https://t.co/q0fpPQRtB0 pic.twitter.com/eFtsfSQtT4
— NYSDOH (@HealthNYGov) August 5, 2022
Why did New York Declare a Polio Emergency
Mary Bassett, the state health commissioner said “On polio, we simply cannot roll the dice,” “If you or your child are unvaccinated or not up to date with vaccinations, the risk of paralytic disease is real. I urge New Yorkers to not accept any risk at all.”’
Governor has declared an emergency that allows health officials to take it very seriously and make the polio vaccination mandate to the affected areas. They are also asking anyone who has recently traveled to any of the affected areas to get tested for the virus. They believe that with prompt treatment and vaccination, it is hoped this spread can be quickly contained. Immunization will be focused on where they are needed the most.
Polio is a scary, serious, and deadly virus. It has been found that the samples that are tested positive can lead to paralysis in humans. According to health officials, people who live, work, go to school, or visit areas of New York City, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and Nassau are at high risk of getting the virus and should take all precautions available. Officials have said that there might be many unknown cases of Polio in the state most of the people have no symptoms but still can transmit the disease.
More about the Poliovirus spread & control!
It was only one case of paralytic polio of an unvaccinated man that has been confirmed in the state of New York since July. The virus has been found in wastewater samples collected from several counties in the state, indicating that it is spreading.
86% of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years had gotten three doses of the polio vaccine in New York City and most of the citizens who are between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years old have received four doses of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They have advised the ones who have not taken their vaccination dose by age of 4 years should receive three doses and everyone should complete their vaccination series as soon as possible.
While the types of poliovirus found in New York City’s wastewater samples is not been genetically linked to the paralytic case, they are known to cause illness. As a result, it is important for people who have not been fully vaccinated to take precautions to protect themselves from exposure.
What is Polio?
Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis and even death. It is most often spread through contact with infected person’s stool (poop) or droplets from a sneeze or cough. There is no cure for polio, which is why vaccination is so important. The polio vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection; however, it must be given multiple times for it to be fully effective.
The outbreak of polio in New York City was a frightening event for parents and children alike. To combat this threat, New York City has declared a polio emergency. It also authorizes health officials to take more aggressive action in areas where the virus has been detected.
Polio can be prevented through vaccination, and all residents of New York City need to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.