First Polio Case Reported since 2013 in New York

The Rockland County Health Department in New York recently announced the first polio case since 2013 in an unvaccinated adult patient. Increased vaccine hesitancy has led to lower vaccination rates, allowing for an increased risk of infections.  

According to the press release, the polio vaccine was first available in 1955. The vaccine dramatically reduced polio cases and made the disease obsolete.  

According to the CDC, polio is a severe and potentially fatal virus that damages the brain and spinal cord and leads to paralysis. The recommended polio vaccination series in the United States is four doses given at 2 months, 4 months, between 6 and 18 months, and between 4 and 6 years old.  

When all doses are administered, the vaccine series is 99% effective in preventing the disease.  

The Rockland County Health Department press announcement states that “typically, the virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the fecal matter of an infected person. Respiratory transmission and oral-to-oral transmission through saliva may also account for some cases.” 

Approximately 95% of infected patients do not exhibit symptoms, while 4% experience mild symptoms. These symptoms include fever, muscle weakness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. The remaining 1% of infected patients experience severe symptoms and may become paralyzed. 

On July 14, the WHO released a statement on global immunization coverage, saying that “polio has been stopped in all countries except for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Until poliovirus transmission is interrupted in these countries, all countries remain at risk of importation of polio, especially vulnerable countries with weak public health and immunization services and travel or trade links to endemic countries.” 

The recent infection in the United States further shows how eradicating the virus globally is essential for universal protection against the disease. Additionally, the WHO states that in 2021 only 80% of children have received their necessary doses of the vaccine.  

To combat the spread of the virus, the Rockland County Health Department is hosting two vaccination clinics on July 22 and 25 for unvaccinated or high-risk patients. The county urges everyone to seek vaccination at a clinic or healthcare provider.  

"The Rockland County Department of Health is working with our local healthcare system and community leaders to notify the public and make polio vaccination available. We are monitoring the situation closely and working with the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to respond to this emergent public health issue to protect the health and wellbeing of county residents,” said County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, DO, MPH, in the recent press statement.  

As previously obsolete viruses, such as polio and diphtheria, continue to reappear, everyone is encouraged to discuss their vaccine schedule with a licensed healthcare provider and receive the appropriate immunizations and boosters.