Categories: World

USA: Polio outbreak in New York for the first time in three decades

USA: Polio outbreak in New York for the first time in three decades

A case of polio has been identified in suburban New York City and confirmed by federal health authorities, the New York State Health Service announced today. It is the first case of this disease recorded in the US in the last 30 years.

According to tests done on the patient, the highly contagious virus found in Rockland County may have arrived in the US from another country.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the New York State Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address this emerging problem and protect the health and well-being of county residents,” said Commissioner Rockland Health, Patricia Schnabel Rupert.

The CDC confirmed the case, noting that no case of polio has been reported in the U.S. since 1979. The virus has, however, been brought into the country through visitors who have contracted the disease. The last time this happened was in 1993.

Source: RES-MPE

Source: Capital