New York governor declares disaster emergency after polio found in wastewater

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared astate disaster emergency on Friday after samples of the poliovirus were discovered in wastewater in three counties outside ofNew York City.

Hochul's executive order came more than a month after anadult in Rockland County, north of New York City, was diagnosedwith the disease in July. It was the first confirmed case ofpolio in the United States in nearly a decade.

The declaration would expand the number of people authorizedto administer polio vaccines and other steps to accelerateinoculation rates. The state of emergency will stay in effectuntil Oct. 9.

The polio virus was present in wastewater samples collectedas early as April, Hochul's executive order said.

Virus was detected in wastewater samples taken in Orange,Rockland and Sullivan counties every month since April,indicating the virus was present in the state before theRockland County case was found in July.

After the disease was detected, New York officials beganurging unvaccinated residents to get polio vacations. While
people of all ages are under threat, the virus primarily affectschildren aged three and younger.

Polio can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases, but itcan be prevented by a vaccine first made available in 1955.

There is no known cure. Three dosesof the vaccine providenearly 100 per centimmunity.