New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency over the spread of the polio virus in the state.
They did so after the presence of a poliovirus was confirmed in samples collected from wastewater in New York City and four surrounding counties. Although only one case of the virus has been confirmed so far, it is the first in the US in more than a decade.
The emergency declaration, which was issued on September 9, is aimed at increasing vaccination rates from the current average of 79% to 90%.
The order Hochul issued is the third declared this year, following those issued in response to the coronavirus pandemic and monkeypox. Empowers medical workers, midwives and pharmacists to join the network of providers who can inoculate the vaccine.
This executive order, detailed on the New York Government website, involves “implementing the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and authorizing all necessary state agencies to take appropriate measures to help local governments and individuals contain , prepare for, respond to, and recover from this state disaster emergency, to protect state and local property, and provide any other assistance necessary to protect public health, welfare, and safety."
"With polio, we simply cannot leave things to chance. If you or your child are not vaccinated or up to date on vaccinations, the risk of a disabling disease is real," Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said in a statement. quoted by the BBC. She added that "for every case of paralytic polio seen, there may be hundreds of people infected."
