- Health officials assured that in Chicago or Illinois, no polio case has been identified at this time.
- But still in Chicago, wastewater will be tested for polio virus.
- Samples for testing will be collected from reclamation plants that serve Chicago.
But the Department of City Health Officials said, “To detect and respond the virus, proactively testing of water from the plants that serve Chicago and suburbs. Partnering with agencies which includes the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is likely in response to the detection of Polio in Chicago city waste – water.
Further testing of the waste – water indicated the presence of Polio – virus in several counties which further indicated that Polio was likely to circulate among the local communities. On which the city Health Officials said, that surveillance methods can be used to prevent the spread of the Polio – Virus.
Massimo Pacilli, CDPH Deputy Commissioner said, “In the U.S. when Polio was eradicated, with thousands of cases occurring a year, caused major public health scares”.
Polio is a contagious disease, which can lead to permanent paralysis of the limbs. It can infect a person’s spinal cord. President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from paralysis, as a result of Polio.
According to Chicago Health Officials, only some of the people infected with Polio will experience some flu – like symptoms, while most of the people infected with it will not experience any symptoms. “One in 200 people infected with Polio will become paralyzed, while one in 25 people infected with Polio will contract meningitis”, said the Chicago Health Officials.
In a statement, Chicago Department of Health said, “However, if specific strains of Polio – Virus are found in communities that have low vaccination rates, it can spread among unvaccinated individuals, putting them at risk for becoming infected and developing Polio. Anyone who is unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated is at risk for developing paralysis if infected with Polio – Virus”.
Children who are vaccinated against Polio – Virus are likely to protected through their adulthood, said the Chicago Health Officials.
