Tests indicated that the case of the highly contagious virus in Rockland County may have originated outside the United States, the department said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to respond to this public health emergency to protect the health and well-being of county residents,” Health Commissioner of Rockland County, Patricia Schnabel. Ruppert said in a statement.
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The CDC, which confirmed the case, said no cases of polio have originated in the US since 1979. However, the virus was brought into the country by travelers with polio. The last time that happened was in 1993, he said. Trending Stories
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Story continues below ad Symptoms of polio include flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, fever, fatigue and nausea, the CDC said. 6:19 NS woman shares experience of living with PTSD NS woman shares experience of living with PTSD – May 19, 2021 Polio invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours. It cannot be cured, but infection can be prevented by vaccination – and the dramatic decline in cases worldwide in recent decades is due to intensive national and regional vaccination campaigns in infants and children.
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In the late 1940s, before polio vaccines were available, outbreaks of the virus disabled about 35,000 Americans each year, especially children and those living in areas where sanitation is poor. In June, polio was detected in sewage samples in London, the first sign since the 1980s that the virus could be spreading in England, but no cases have been found, authorities said.
