A case of Polio, a disease that killed thousands of American children in the early 20th century, has occurred in an unvaccinated adult man in Rockland County, NY. This instance is held as an unspoken reminder that illnesses do not disappear, even if they are dormant for decades.
According to the New York Times, “The New York State Department of Health and it’s Rockland County counterpart confirmed that the infection was transmitted from someone who received the oral polo vaccine, which has not been administered in the United States since 2000. Officials said in a news release that the virus may have originated outside the United States, where the oral vaccine is still administered.”
Oral Polio Vaccine
The Oral Polio vaccine, also known as OPV, does not provide herd immunity when a large part of a population in an area is immune to a specific disease. Children seemed to be getting Polio from the oral vaccine, and the vaccine itself proved to be ineffective in preventing Polio transmission from another source.
The man is no longer contagious, but is still in the process of recovery. He suffered symptoms of weakness and paralysis. Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland County’s health commissioner stated, “We are now surveying the family and close contacts of this individual to assess the risk to the community”.
The last case of Polio in the United States was in 2013. The individual brought the disease from abroad. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has not been a case originating in the United States since 1979.
What is Polio?
Polio is an illness caused by a virus that attacks nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. In severe cases, Polio can lead to poliomyelitis, paralysis caused by polio, along with meningitis.
Individuals who have obtained the virus, tend to have no visible symptoms. About 1 in 4 people will have flu-like symptoms including; sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, and stomach pain. Those symptoms only last 2-5 days, then go away on their own. On the other hand, a small portion of people will develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord.
Polio is very contagious and spreads through person-to-person contact, living in an infected person’s throat and intestines. A person can obtain Polio when the virus enters their mouth, from feces or an infected person.
Prevention
Polio is a dangerous illness that can lead to serious health problems. Fortunately for us, Polio is not common like it used to be. Nowadays there is a vaccine used to protect children by preparing their body for polio. Almost all children (more than 99 percent) who get all the recommended doses of the inactivated Polio vaccine will be protected from the virus.
Practicing proper hand hygiene, and washing your hands with soap and water, are also extremely important to prevent any illness, not just polio.
Staying healthy in Cortland
With the cold winter upon us, illnesses are spread frequently, so make sure to take care of yourself, whether it’s dressing warm, getting vaccines, keeping your immune system strong, or washing your hands after going out.
If you are sick, stay home and take care of yourself!! Stay safe Red Dragons.