Polio virus found in New York City wastewater, suggesting local transmission

Well being officers recognized the virus that causes polio in New York Metropolis’s wastewater, suggesting native transmission of the virus, state authorities mentioned on Friday, urging unvaccinated New Yorkers to get vaccinated.

“The NYC Heath Division and the New York State Division of Well being have recognized poliovirus in sewage in NYC, 
suggesting native transmission of the virus,” the town’s well being division mentioned in a press release on Friday.

“Polio can result in paralysis and even dying. We urge unvaccinated New Yorkers to get vaccinated now.”

The identification comes weeks after a case of polio in an grownup was made public on July 21 in Rockland County, marking the nation’s first confirmed case in almost 10 years.

Earlier this month, well being officers mentioned the virus was present in wastewater within the New York Metropolis suburb a month earlier than well being officers there introduced the Rockland County case.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned on the time that it was not clear whether or not the virus was actively spreading in New York or elsewhere within the United States.

Proof of virus in London

There is no such thing as a remedy for polio, which might trigger irreversible paralysis in some circumstances, however it may be prevented by a vaccine made accessible in 1955.

New York officers have mentioned they’re opening vaccine clinics to assist unvaccinated residents get their photographs. 

Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the one polio vaccine that has been given in the US since 2000, based on the CDC. It’s given by shot within the leg or arm, relying on the affected person’s age.

On Wednesday, British well being authorities introduced they’ll provide a polio booster dose to youngsters aged one to 9 in London, after discovering proof the virus has been spreading in a number of areas of the capital. Britain’s Well being Safety Company mentioned polio virus samples have been present in sewage water from eight boroughs of London, however there have been no confirmed infections.

Polio is commonly asymptomatic and folks can transmit the virus even when they don’t seem sick. However it may possibly produce 
gentle, flu-like signs that may take so long as 30 days to seem, officers mentioned.

It may strike at any age however the majority of these affected are youngsters aged three and youthful.