Polio state of emergency declared in New York.

polio virus

According to the officials, polio emergency being declared in New York as poliovirus has been detected in the Nassau county samples.

According to the news, Governor Kathy Hochul declared state of emergency on polio outbreak. Recently poliovirus have been detected in the Nassau county samples, and orders have been given to all the emergency service workers, midwives and pharmacists to administer polio vaccine and also to send data to the officials so they could manage the areas with high polio outbreak and spread their vaccine work there.

The first polio case in nearly a decade was identified in July in New York.

“On polio, we simply cannot roll the dice,” Dr. Mary T. Bassett, the state health commissioner, said in a statement on Friday. “Do not wait to vaccinate.”

News source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/09/nyregion/new-york-polio-state-of-emergency.html

That’s the news related to polio, and the things you should know about polio are here.

What is polio?

It is a disabling and life threatening diseases caused by a virus called polio virus.

It is also called as poliomyelitis.

The polio virus spreads from one person to another person, and can effect movements and can paralyze the person.

What was the real cause of polio?

It is causes by 1 to 3 types of polio viruses and it can spread through the feces of the infected person. Maybe because of touch or any other method it can spread.

It remains in the throat and intestines of the infected person’s body.

How is polio transmitted?

It can be transmitted through direct contact or maybe indirectly through the feces of the infected person.

And people having polio virus can transmit this disease for many weeks through the feces and people having no symptoms but having this virus can also transmit this virus to other people who are healthy.

This virus actually invades the nervous system and paralyzes the system of the human body.

And we should know that poliomyelitis or in short form polio is a paralytic disease.

What are the polio symptoms?

I. Headache

II. Back pain

III. Sore throat

IV. Stiffness in legs or arms

V. Vomiting

VI. Fever

VII. Fatigue

VIII. Neck pain

polio symptoms

How effective is the polio vaccine?

Polio vaccine is effective against polio virus as it contains dead or weakened polio virus and because of it a person’s becomes immune of this disease. A person is considered to be vaccinated if he/she has taken four doses of IPV or trivalent oral polio vaccine.

So this is effective against the polio virus, and as we described about the polio outbreak in New York government has advised people to get vaccinated against this virus, who aren’t vaccinated. And children should also be vaccinated against this virus.

Can polio be cured?

No, polio couldn’t be cured. The only way to get rid of this disease is vaccine.

Everyone should get polio vaccine, against this disease. And, vaccines which are oral polio vaccine and IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) is administered in USA since 2000.

There is no cure available for this disease the only way to get rid is polio vaccine, but medicines and treatment is available to lower its symptoms in mild cases. And if the person has muscle pain these type of symptoms can be reduced.

What is the survival rate of polio?

The mortality rate for acute paralytic polio ranges from 5–15%. The paralysis can progress for up to one week.

What is the death rate of polio?

The case fatality ratio for paralytic polio is generally 2% to 5% among children and up to 15% to 30% among adolescents and adults.

Who is most at risk for polio?

Polio virus generally affects children under age of 5.

In younger people having low immunity, are affected by this virus. That’s why children should be vaccinated against this virus, which is the only cure we have for polio.

According to the WHO,

1. Polio (poliomyelitis) mainly affects children under 5 years of age.

2. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

WHO source link: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis#:~:text=Cases%20due%20to%20wild%20poliovirus,at%20risk%20of%20contracting%20polio.

Conclusion.

Polio is still present in the world, and everyone should know his/her responsibility as they should get vaccinated against it. And also to get their children vaccinated against this disease.

It affects the nervous system and finally results in the paralyzed limb. And it can be fatal.