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For Release
Friday, 12th January,
2001
PALM BEACH COUNTY - A
recent outbreak of Polio in
the Dominican Republic and
Haiti has health officials
in south Florida alerting
people in the area who have
traveled to or from these
countries to be certain they
have been properly immunized
against polio.
Polio was eradicated from
the Western Hemisphere in
1991. The 19 recently
reported cases all had
either not been vaccinated
or inadequately vaccinated.
South Florida has been
identified by the Centers
for Disease Control as a
gateway to and from the
Caribbean and thus, has
advised all area health
departments to be on the
look out for the polio
disease.
Dr. Jean M. Malecki,
Director of the Palm Beach
County Health Department
said, “The chances of an
outbreak in our area are
very low. But, I do want to
caution people especially
those who have traveled to
Haiti and the Dominican
Republic to check that they
have received a total of
four doses of the polio
vaccine.” Dr. Malecki added
that the health department
is also reviewing school
immunization records, day
care centers and notifying
area physicians to be on the
look out for symptoms.
Polio typically starts with
the rapid onset of flaccid
paralysis and fever. The
paralysis progresses to its
maximal extent affecting
deep tendon reflexes within
a few days and usually
progresses no further once
the fever begins to drop.
With the heightened
awareness that polio is
still present the Health
Department hopes to find
those persons not immunized,
are inadequately immunized,
or are in need of a booster.
Those needing immunization
information or to report any
suspect cases of polio
should call the Health
Department’s Epidemiology
Department at
(561) 840-4566.
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