New York Detects First U.S. Polio Case Since 2013
New York health officials announced Thursday that a resident of Rockland County has polio, marking the first case in the U.S. since 2013.
The New York Department of Health said the case was identified through sequencing at its public health laboratory, Wadsworth Center, and was confirmed by the CDC.
Officials believe the virus likely originated abroad, because of the strain that was detected — revertant polio Sabin type 2 virus.
“This is indicative of a transmission chain from an individual who received the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is no longer authorized or administered in the U.S., where only the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) has been given since 2000,” the department wrote. “This suggests that the virus may have originated in a location outside of the U.S. where OPV is administered, since revertant strains cannot emerge from inactivated vaccines.”
Thanks to the prevalence of vaccines, the last naturally occurring case of polio in the U.S. was recorded in 1979. The last known case in the U.S. was recorded by the CDC in 2013, though it was not a wild strain.
A news release from New York health officials notes polio is “very contagious” and symptoms can take up to 30 days to appear. As those who are vaccinated have a low risk of contracting the virus, health officials are recommending those who have not yet received a polio vaccine to do so.
The New York Health Department, the Rockland County Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are working together to investigate the case and “proactively respond.”
“Many of you may be too young to remember polio, but when I was growing up, this disease struck fear in families, including my own,” Rockland County executive Ed Day said in a statement. “The fact that it is still around decades after the vaccine was created shows you just how relentless it is.”
“Do the right thing for your child and the greater good of your community and have your child vaccinated now,” he added.
