New York declares 'State Disaster Emergency' over polio fears

New York State this week issued an emergency declaration over what it said were fears of the polio virus circulating there, though as of yet only one case of the feared disease has been detected in a state resident over the last few months. 

State Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday "issued an Executive Order declaring a State Disaster Emergency, increasing the availability of resources to protect New Yorkers against paralytic disease," the state health department said in a press release. 

The state said that following the one confirmed case in Rockland County over the summer, it launched a wastewater monitoring program in order to "check for signs of the virus in sewage water in communities."

The initiative "has found poliovirus in samples collected from Rockland County, Orange County, Sullivan County, New York City, and now, Nassau County," the health department said. "The sample collected in August from Nassau County has been genetically linked to the case of paralytic polio previously identified in Rockland County, further evidence of expanding community spread."

State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett urged New Yorkers to obtain their polio vaccinations if they have not already received them. 

"Do not wait to vaccinate," Bassett said. "If you are unsure of you or your families' vaccination status, contact a healthcare provider, clinic, or local county health department to make sure you and your loved ones receive all recommended doses."