Home United States USA — Criminal Health commissioner alarmed after polio detected in New York City sewage

Health commissioner alarmed after polio detected in New York City sewage

88
0
SHARE

Array
Polio, extremely rare since the disease was virtually eradicated years ago, now has been detected in the sewage system in New York City, alarming state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett, according to a new report.
Bassett said local and federal officials are trying to determine how far it has spread, according to a report from CNBC.
The disease raged across the United States in the 1920s, when the Iron Lung machine was developed to assist breathing for patients who had been paralyzed by the health threat. Those encased a person’s body, and created a negative air pressure, essentially « breathing » for the paralyzed victims.
« For every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may be undetected, » worried Bassett. « The best way to keep adults and children polio-free is through safe and effective immunization. »
Polio, besides permanent paralysis, also can cause death.
The report noted some 14% of New York City children ages 6 months to 5 years have not finished their vaccination series against polio.
In fact, the report said there are some areas of the city where fewer than 70% of the children have fully vaccinations completed.

Continue reading...