Virus Detected After About 40 Years
Poliomyelitis, a Highly Contagious Viral Disease
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The detection of the poliovirus in the sewage of New York City in Rockland County, New York State, USA, has raised concerns among health authorities about the high possibility of local transmission.
On the 12th (local time), major foreign media including the AP reported that the poliovirus was detected in New York City's sewage. In response, Ashwin Vasan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health, issued a statement recommending vaccination, saying, "There is nothing more necessary than vaccinating our children to protect them from this virus."
Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious viral disease. Earlier, a confirmed case of polio was reported in Rockland County, New York State, for the first time in nine years, and poliovirus was detected in sewage samples from the area. Subsequently, the virus was also detected in the UK for the first time in 40 years.
According to foreign media including the AP on the 10th (local time), the virus was found in 19 sewage samples collected from northeastern and central boroughs of London. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced that 116 polioviruses were identified in the sewage samples.
UKHSA is investigating the possibility that the virus was introduced from outside and is cooperating with authorities in the United States and Israel to examine the connection.
Meanwhile, poliomyelitis mainly affects children under the age of five and is primarily transmitted through contaminated water. Typical symptoms of polio infection include high fever, sore throat, headache, and muscle pain, accompanied by paralysis symptoms such as encephalitis and myelitis. Thanks to the development of the polio vaccine, it is considered virtually eradicated in developed countries, and in Europe including the UK, eradication was declared in 2003.
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