New York county confirms case of polio

The New York Division of Well being on Thursday reported a case of polio in a resident of the state’s Rockland County. 

This case marks the primary within the U.S. in practically a decade. 

The division mentioned it was recognized via sequencing on the Wadsworth Heart — its public well being laboratory — and confirmed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). 

The sequencing confirmed revertant polio Sabin sort 2 virus.

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“That is indicative of a transmission chain from a person who acquired the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is not approved or administered within the U.S., the place solely the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) has been given since 2000,” the division wrote. “This means that the virus might have originated in a location outdoors of the U.S. the place OPV is run, since revertant strains can’t emerge from inactivated vaccines.”

Polio is endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

The New York Division of Well being, the Rockland County Division of Well being and the New York Metropolis Division of Well being and Psychological Hygiene are coordinating to proceed the case investigation and “proactively reply.”

This 1964 microscope picture made accessible by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reveals harm from the polio virus to human spinal twine tissue.
(Dr. Karp/Emory College/CDC by way of AP)

A viral illness that may have an effect on the nervous system and trigger muscle weak spot, the polio virus usually enters via the mouth. 

Whereas it’s normally transmitted by fingers contaminated with the fecal matter of an contaminated particular person, respiratory and oral-to-oral transmission via saliva might also happen.

Polio may be very contagious, and an individual can unfold the virus even when they are not sick. Nearly all of folks contaminated with polio don’t have any signs. 

Signs might be delicate and flu-like and might take as much as 30 days to current, throughout which era the contaminated particular person can unfold the virus to others. 

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Though uncommon, some instances can lead to paralysis or dying. 

Because of the success of the polio vaccine, launched in 1955, instances had been reduce dramatically within the late Nineteen Fifties and early Nineteen Sixties. The final naturally occurring instances of polio within the U.S. had been reported in 1979, and the final identified case within the nation was recorded by the CDC in 2013.

The polio vaccine is a part of the required faculty immunization schedule for all kids. In keeping with the latest CDC information, about 93% of 2-year-olds had acquired at the least three doses of polio vaccine.

A nurse prepares to manage the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, in addition to a vaccine used to assist stop the ailments of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio, at Kids’s Main Care Clinic in Minneapolis on April 28, 2017.
(Courtney Perry/For the Washington Put up)

All of those that haven’t accomplished their polio vaccine collection beforehand — or Rockland County members who’re involved they might have been uncovered to the virus — ought to get vaccinated at native clinics. 

Individuals there who’ve already been vaccinated, who’re thought-about to be at decrease threat, however are susceptible to publicity ought to obtain a booster.

The primary clinic in New York’s Rockland County shall be on the Pomona Well being Advanced on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. A second clinic on the identical location shall be held on Monday. Stroll-ins shall be accepted.

Officers are advising medical practitioners and well being care suppliers to be vigilant for added instances.

The Related Press contributed to this report.