Polio: detection of the virus in wastewater

US health authorities are concerned about the resurgence of poliomyelitis in the country. Especially since the virus has just been identified in samples of wastewater from a county near New York.

Polio, a disease that is resurfacing

“And New Yorker paralyzed by polioit’s already too much, and I don’t want to see another paralytic case”. That’s according to New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett, as reported by CNN. In addition to this case, the poliomyelitis has been identified in wastewater samples of Rockland County, Orange County and New York City.

Hundreds of asymptomatic polio cases

In early August, Dr. José Romero, a physician with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the case of poliomyelitis identified with New York is “only the tip of the iceberg“. According to him, there “must be several hundreds of cases in the community circulating”, asymptomatic. These people continue to spread the virus.

Not all Americans are vaccinated…

Poliomyelitis can cause paralysis and be fatal. No treatment exists. All the Americans are not vaccinated. As of August 1, Rockland County’s polio vaccination rate was 60.34%, and New York State’s 78.96%. These are the numbers of children who received three polio vaccinations before their second birthday.

Source: CNN Health