The first case of the monkeypox virus has been confirmed in Orange County, the Department of Health has announced. Numbers are slowly increasing statewide. In adjacent Rockland County, a case of polio has been confirmed. This is the first case in the United States in over a decade.
As of today, there are 831 confirmed monkeypox cases throughout New York State. Along with Orange County, neighboring Dutchess County and nearby Greene County are new to the list.
A new, county-wide breakdown shows the total number of monkeypox cases:
- New York City: 778
- Westchester County: 10
- Suffolk County: 4
- Nassau County: 4
- Monroe County: 2
- Erie County: 1
- Sullivan County: 1
- Chemung County: 1
- Rockland County: 1
- St. Lawrence County: 1
- Tompkins County: 1
- Albany County: 1
- Orange County: 1
- Greene County: 1
- Dutchess County: 1
As reported in The Newburgh News yesterday (story here), a third round of monkeypox vaccinations is being distributed across New York State. Orange County has yet to receive any doses despite the growing cases nearby. , although it is nearby several other counties with active infections. The U.S. Center for Disease Control insists there is an “ample” supply.
The New York State Department of Health confirmed the Polio case in Rockland County.
“Based on what we know about this case, and polio in general, the Department of Health strongly recommends that unvaccinated individuals get vaccinated or boosted with the FDA-approved IPV polio vaccine as soon as possible,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said. “The polio vaccine is safe and effective, protecting against this potentially debilitating disease, and it has been part of the backbone of required, routine childhood immunizations recommended by health officials and public health agencies nationwide.”
According to state health officials, polio is very contagious and a person can spread the virus even if they aren’t sick. Symptoms, which can be mild and flu-like (fatigue, fever, headache, stiffness, muscle pain, vomiting), can take up to 30 days to appear, during which time an infected individual can be shedding virus to others. Though rare, some polio cases can result in paralysis or death.
“Many of you may be too young to remember polio, but when I was growing up, this disease struck fear in families, including my own,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.”
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