Polio detected in New York City wastewater

Officials found poliovirus in New York City wastewater, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced Friday.

Health officials found poliovirus in New York City wastewater, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced Friday. That means polio is likely circulating undetected in the city.

The virus was previously detected in wastewater samples from Orange County and Rockland County, north of the city, in May, June and July. One case of paralytic polio was identified in Rockland County last month, in an unvaccinated adult.

Polio re-emerges in New York City's wastewaterAug. 13, 202207:22“The risk to New Yorkers is real, but the defense is so simple — get vaccinated against polio,” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said in a statement. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children get four doses of the polio vaccine: the first at 2 months old, the second at 4 months, the third at 6 through 18 months, and the last between 4 and 6 years old.

Most people get those shots as part of their routine childhood immunizations. In New York City, around 86% of children ages 6 months to 5 years old have received the first three doses. Statewide, 79% of New Yorkers have received three doses by age 2.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/polio-detected-new-york-city-wastewater-rcna42834

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