he polio virus has been found in New York City's wastewater in another sign that the disease, which hadn't been seen in the U.S. in a decade, is quietly spreading among unvaccinated people

the state was stepping up its polio-fighting efforts as the virus that causes the life-threatening disease was detected in the wastewater of yet another county in the New York City area.

Health officials began checking for signs of the virus in sewage water after the first case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade was identified in July in Rockland County, which is north of the city

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The latest detection involved a wastewater sample collected last month in Nassau County on Long Island, directly east of the city

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The sample is genetically linked to the polio case from Rockland and provides further evidence of expanding community spread

The poliovirus had previously been detected in wastewater in New York City and three counties to its north: Rockland, Orange and Sullivan.

Hochul declared a state disaster emergency that allows EMS workers, midwives and pharmacists to administer polio vaccines and allows doctors to issue standing orders for the vaccine

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Data on immunizations will be used to focus vaccination efforts where they're needed the most

If you or your child are unvaccinated or not up to date with vaccinations, the risk of paralytic disease is real

including children by 2 months of age, pregnant people and those who haven't completed their vaccine series — should get immunized immediately. They also urged boosters for certain people, such as healthcare workers in affected areas who treat patients who might have polio

The statewide polio vaccination rate is 79%, but the counties of Rockland, Orange and Sullivan had lower rates.

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