Polio or poliomyelitis is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. On Friday, New York declared a state of emergency after the detection of the virus in the state’s wastewater.

There are three variations of poliovirus, called wild poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 (WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3), of which types 2 and 3 no longer exist. Type 1, which exists in a few parts of the world, is most likely to cause paralysis.

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New York Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett urged people who are unvaccinated to get their shots immediately. 

“On polio, we simply cannot roll the dice,” Bassett said. “I urge New Yorkers to not accept any risk at all. Polio immunization is safe and effective — protecting nearly all people against disease who receive the recommended doses.”

“Do not wait to vaccinate. If you are unsure of you or your families’ vaccination status, contact a health care provider, clinic, or local county health department to make sure you and your loved ones receive all recommended doses.”

Symptoms of Polio and how it is transmitted:

Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms. Very few will show flu-like symptoms that can include, sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache and stomach ache. 

A smaller proportion will develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord, meningitis or paralysis.

Polio is very contagious and spreads through person-to-person contact. It lives in an infected person’s throat and intestines. The virus can contaminate food and water in unsanitary conditions.

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Poliovirus only infects people and enters the body through the mouth. It spreads through contact with feces of an infected person or through droplets from sneeze or cough. 

Someone can get infected with poliovirus if he/she has picked up minute pieces of faeces on your hands, and touch your mouth. You can also contract it if you put in your mouth objects like toys that are contaminated with feces.

You’re most at risk for polio if you aren’t vaccinated. Other ways in which you can get infected is that live in or travel to an area where polio hasn’t been eliminated. If your child is under 5.

You are also at risk if you are pregnant.