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Congratulations anti-vaxxers! They said it couldn't be done!!

But you guys wouldn't take no for an answer - you brought POLIO back to the USA! Amazing!!

A young adult male in Rockland County NY, who didn't leave the country, has contracted polio (AKA poliomyelitis). They don't know where he got it, other than from some other infected person. Yes, he's unvaccinated, despite the requirement that all school age children be multiply vaccinated for polio.

He showed up at his doctor's office complaining of weakness and paralysis.
[quote]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.

In this case, sequencing performed by the Wadsworth Center – NYSDOH's public health laboratory – and confirmed by CDC showed revertant polio Sabin type 2 virus. [/quote]
[b]https://health.ny.gov/press/releases/2022/2022-07-21_polio_rockland_county.htm[/b]

Yes, the paralysis is permanent and irreversible. And it all could have been prevented by a few routine doses of polio vaccine; CDC recommends total of four doses: 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 through 18 months old, and 4 through 6 years old.

Sixty plus years of hard work by doctors and epidemiologists and public health officials is starting to be undone by anti-vaxxers and the misinformation they spread. Lordy lordy, what does it mean when the ignorant spread POLIO in our great land??
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Mamapolo2016 · F Best Comment
I actually DID have polio as a toddler.

I nearly died, but survived and have only a very slight disability which isn't noticeable unless I'm very tired.

We're going to need artificial intelligence after all, as we seem to have failed the evolution quiz.
@Mamapolo2016 Thanks so much for your perspective.
Graylight · 51-55, F
@Mamapolo2016 Just, wow. You carry a piece of history - and the knowledge of good and bad public health policy decision. Glad you beat it.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Mamapolo2016 I hope you do not develop the late polio sundresses me. A colleague of mine did at age 80, he is a mess now.
@samueltyler2 How cheerful! Although I could use some sundresses.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Mamapolo2016 whoops, not sundresses, syndrome, sorry, autocorrect is awful!
@samueltyler2 I knew what you meant. I think I DO have post-polio syndrome.

It's not very far along yet. All they can do is try to manage any pain.

I'm not going to borrow trouble.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Mamapolo2016 So sorry, my colleague ended up retiring, he was a vibrant neuro-toxicologist. I do owe him an email.
@samueltyler2 Write it. No time like the present!
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Mamapolo2016 I need to find his email address.