For the first time in decades, America records a case of polio

The New York State Department of Health said on Thursday that a case of polio has been detected outside New York City and that it was confirmed by federal health officials, to be the first known infection in the country in at least 30 years.

The state Department of Health said in a statement that the examination indicated that the case detected in Rockland County for the highly contagious virus may have come from outside the United States.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address this public health emergency to protect the health and safety of county residents," Rockland County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel said in a statement.

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