Polio Virus Found In Rockland Wastewater For First Time Since October

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — More than 19,000 polio vaccines have been given since the first case of polio in the U.S. in more than a decade was confirmed in Rockland County in July, but there are new signs that the outbreak isn't over yet.

This week, the New York State Department of Health confirmed the presence of poliovirus in Rockland wastewater for the first time since October. The single positive result was collected in February and has so far been followed by non-detections in wastewater samples, but unvaccinated residents should still act now to protect themselves, public health officials said.

Israel's Ministry of Health also recently confirmed four children tested positive for poliovirus in Northern Israel. One unvaccinated child presented symptoms of paralysis while the other three children were asymptomatic. With increased travel expected between Rockland County and Israel over Passover, Rockland officials are reminding families that there is a real risk of paralysis from the polio virus for those who are unvaccinated.

Anyone who lives or travels to areas with increased risk of poliovirus should ensure they are adequately vaccinated, health officials urged. Adults who completed the polio vaccine series as children may also receive a one-time booster dose of polio vaccine (IPV).

According to the health alert issued by Rockland heath officials, polio traditionally hits seasonally, with large outbreaks typically surfacing during summer. Rockland officials said they remain focused on getting those unvaccinated or behind on their 4-dose polio vaccine series up to date, particularly infants and preschool-aged children, because transmission of this disease only continues if overall vaccination rates remain low.

"It is our obligation to protect all our residents from these debilitating and potentially fatal diseases," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said in a statement announcing the health department find. "The law requiring childhood vaccinations has been in place for many years for this very reason. I urge our residents to act now and protect yourselves, your family, and your community."

County officials said, as of this week, 19,282 doses of the polio vaccine have been administered to Rockland County residents since the outbreak was first discovered.

"Polio is preventable through the complete vaccination series," Commissioner of Health Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said. "Our hope is that we will not see another case of paralytic polio as we did last summer. I urge all who are unvaccinated or are under-vaccinated to complete their series. This is important locally as well as for travelers."

The Rockland County Department of Health said it is actively working on strategies to increase vaccination rates in the county, including working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state health officials to perform daycare and school assessments and audits. The health department also started offering immunizations in the Spring Valley clinic and is working to ramp up a vaccination messaging campaign.

"While certainly the number of doses is strong, the polio vaccine is a series of 4-doses, so it takes time to reach full protection," Day explained. "As I’ve said before, this is why it is crucial for schools and the New York State Education Department to maintain and enforce these required vaccinations. But families with unvaccinated children who are not yet of school age completely lack protection from this dreaded disease and must get on schedule now."

The Rockland County Department of Health is offering free polio booster clinics at the Robert Yeager Health Center, 50 Sanatorium Road, Building A, in Pomona. The clinics are only for those who have completed their polio vaccination series.

These clinics are walk-in; no appointment is needed:

• Friday, April 14, from 9:00 am - 11:00 am
• Friday, April 28, from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Any New York resident who needs the Inactivated Polio Vaccine can receive one by calling the Health Department at 845-364-2520 or 845-364-2524 to make an appointment at one of their regular immunization clinics.

SEE ALSO:

• Rockland Polio Strain Matches Virus Samples In London, Jerusalem
• Polio In Rockland: Checking School Vaccination Rates
• Polio Paralyzes Resident, Rockland Clinic Vaccinates 18
• Health Officials Concerned About Polio Vaccination Rates In The HV