Current:Home > FinancePoliovirus detected in more wastewater near New York City-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Poliovirus detected in more wastewater near New York City
View Date:2024-12-23 17:06:43
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday the state was stepping up its polio-fighting efforts as the virus that causes the life-threatening disease was detected in the wastewater of yet another county in the New York City area.
Health officials began checking for signs of the virus in sewage water after the first case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade was identified in July in Rockland County, which is north of the city. The latest detection involved a wastewater sample collected last month in Nassau County on Long Island, directly east of the city.
The sample is genetically linked to the polio case from Rockland and provides further evidence of expanding community spread, state health officials said. The poliovirus had previously been detected in wastewater in New York City and three counties to its north: Rockland, Orange and Sullivan.
Hochul declared a state disaster emergency that allows EMS workers, midwives and pharmacists to administer polio vaccines and allows doctors to issue standing orders for the vaccine. Data on immunizations will be used to focus vaccination efforts where they're needed the most.
"On polio, we simply cannot roll the dice," state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a prepared statement. "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."
Health officials said all unvaccinated New York residents — including children by 2 months of age, pregnant people and those who haven't completed their vaccine series — should get immunized immediately. They also urged boosters for certain people, such as healthcare workers in affected areas who treat patients who might have polio.
The statewide polio vaccination rate is 79%, but the counties of Rockland, Orange and Sullivan had lower rates.
Officials have said that it is possible that hundreds of people in the state have gotten polio and don't know it. Most people infected with polio have no symptoms but can still give the virus to others for days or weeks.
The lone confirmed case in New York involved an unidentified young adult who was unvaccinated.
veryGood! (81447)
Related
- Georgia State University is planning a $107M remake of downtown Atlanta
- MGM’s CEO says tentative deal to avoid strike will be reached with Las Vegas hotel workers union
- Top US accident investigator says close calls between planes show that aviation is under stress
- Powell reinforces Fed’s cautious approach toward further interest rate hikes
- Disney x Lululemon Limited-Edition Collection: Shop Before It Sells Out
- CMAs awards Lainey Wilson top honors, Jelly Roll sees success, plus 3 other unforgettable moments
- Horoscopes Today, November 8, 2023
- Pizza Hut in Hong Kong rolls out snake-meat pizza for limited time
- Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.
- Massachusetts is running out of shelter beds for families, including migrants from other states
Ranking
- Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
- Japan’s SoftBank hit with $6.2B quarterly loss as WeWork, other tech investments go sour
- Video chat service Omegle shuts down following years of user abuse claims
- One teen dead and one critically injured in Miami crash early Wednesday morning
- Texas mother sentenced to 50 years for leaving kids in dire conditions as son’s body decomposed
- Spain’s Socialists to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for support of new government
- India, Pakistan border guards trade fire along their frontier in Kashmir; one Indian soldier killed
- Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee, White House says
Recommendation
-
About Charles Hanover
-
Sheriff: 2 Florida deputies seriously injured after they were intentionally struck by a car
-
Really impressive Madrid, Sociedad advance in Champions League. Man United again falls in wild loss
-
Really impressive Madrid, Sociedad advance in Champions League. Man United again falls in wild loss
-
Businesses at struggling corner where George Floyd was killed sue Minneapolis
-
Jimmy Buffett honored with tribute performance at CMAs by Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, more
-
Titanic first-class menu, victim's pocket watch going on sale at auction
-
Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic as cases spike. 42 dead and more than 900 hospitalized since July