New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency on Friday in a bid to accelerate efforts to vaccinate residents against polio after the virus was detected in wastewater samples taken in four counties.
Hochul's executive order followed the discovery of the virus last month in samples from Long Island's Nassau County, bordering the New York City borough of Queens. Earlier this year the virus was found in samples from Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan counties, all north of the city.
In July, the first confirmed case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade turned up in an adult in Rockland County, according to the state health department.
Polio can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases, but it can be prevented by a vaccine first made available in 1955. While there is no known cure, three injections of the vaccine provide nearly 100% immunity.
People of all ages are under threat, though the virus primarily affects children aged three and younger.
Officials urged unvaccinated adults and minors as young as two months old to get inoculated against the virus and advised that vaccinated people receive a lifetime booster dose.
Hochul's declaration authorizes paramedics, midwives, and pharmacists to administer polio vaccinations, among other steps, to accelerate inoculation rates. The order also directs healthcare providers to update the state with data on immunizations.
The state of emergency will stay in effect until Oct. 9. Health officials set a goal of getting 90% of residents vaccinated.
The state health department warned people in New York City, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and Nassau counties are at the highest risk.
Orange County has the lowest vaccination rate of the counties of concern with less than 59% being immunized, according to the state health department.