New York's Wastewater Surveillance Finds Poliovirus Again

The New York (N.Y.) Department of Health recently issued an updated Poliovirus Wastewater Surveillance Report. Wastewater is sewage containing feces flushed down the toilet and other water from household drains. 

Polio is highly contagious, and people can spread the virus even if they don't know they're sick. However, individuals infected with polio shed the virus in their stool, says N.Y.

On May 1, 2023, NY reported 1,170 samples had been tested for polio, with one positive sample of concern found in Rockland County.

In 2022, sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of poliovirus in a total of 100 positive samples of concern in Sullivan, Rockland, Orange, Nassau, and New York City. 

N.Y.'s Health Department also clarified wastewater collected in sewer systems could not be a polio infection or transmission source for the general public. It does not contaminate drinking water, including tap water, streams, and lakes.

The U.S. CDC announced on November 30, 2022, that it would expand wastewater testing. Dr. José R. Romero, Director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, indicated that poliovirus testing would continue into early 2023. 

In 2022, about 35 countries have confirmed similar findings from wastewater testing.

The U.S. CDC confirms polio is a vaccine-preventable disease.

And in 2023, N.Y. recommends a one-time polio vaccination booster for certain people. In addition, various polio vaccines are available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.