New York Gov. Kathy Hotchul declared a state of emergency on Friday after samples of the polio virus were discovered in sewage in three counties outside of New York. Hochul’s executive order came more than a month after an adult in Rockland County, upstate New York, was diagnosed with the disease in July. It was the first confirmed case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade. The declaration will expand the number of people authorized to administer polio vaccines and other measures to accelerate vaccination rates. The state of emergency will remain in effect until October 9. The polio virus was present in sewage samples collected as early as April, Ms. Hotchul’s executive order said. The virus was detected in sewage samples taken in Orange, Rockland and Sullivan counties every month since April, indicating the virus was present in the state before the Rockland County case was identified in July. After the disease was identified, New York City officials began urging unvaccinated residents to get polio shots. While people of all ages are at risk, the virus mainly affects children aged three and under. Polio can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases, but it can be prevented with a vaccine first made available in 1955. There is no known cure. Three injections of the vaccine provide almost 100 percent immunity. Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
