Polio virus has been found in NYC sewage for the first time in a decade, pointing to signs that it is spreading quietly. Here’s everything you need to know.
Is the polio virus circulating in the US?
New York health officials on Friday revealed that sewage waters in New York City tested positive for poliovirus. According to them, it is a clear sign of spreading among unvaccinated people.
“The presence of the poliovirus in the city’s wastewater suggests likely local circulation of the virus,” stated the NY state and federal government.
“This is sobering; we know polio spreads silently, and it’s likely that there are many people infected with polio and shedding the virus in these communities. This is also an urgent and living reminder of the importance of vaccination,” stated Dr. José R. Romero. Dr. Romero is the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The risk to New Yorkers is real but the defense is so simple — get vaccinated against polio. With polio circulating in our communities, there is simply nothing more essential than vaccinating our children to protect them from this virus. And if you’re an unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated adult, please choose now to get the vaccine. Polio is entirely preventable and its reappearance should be a call to action for all of us,” stated Dr. Ashwin Vasan. Dr. Vasan is the health commissioner for the city.
NYC confronts deadly disease
NYC is being forced to confront the potentially deadly disease. Especially as health officials struggle to vaccinate vulnerable people against monkeypox. (Ativan) This is in addition to adjusting to the new COVID-19 guidelines.
“We are dealing with a trifecta,” said Mayor Eric Adams on Friday. “COVID is still very much here. Polio, we have identified polio in our sewage, and we’re still dealing with the monkeypox crisis. But the team is there. And we’re coordinating and addressing the threats as they come before us, and we’re prepared to deal with them with the assistance of Washington, D.C.,” he added.
The news comes after British Health officials found the polio virus in London. However, they did not find cases in people. Children in London between the ages of one to nine are eligible for a polio booster vaccine from Wednesday. One person in Rockland County, New York suffered paralysis due to the infection. Wastewater samples from Rockland and Orange county contained the virus. However, CDC officials could not determine its link with the NYC sample since it did not have enough genetic material.