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Press Release

Polio Outbreak in Dominican Republic and Haiti puts Florida on Alert 

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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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For more information, reporters may contact:
Public Relations,  Tim O’Connor
email: feedback
Phone: (561) 355-3576 
FAX:    (561) 355-3038
Press Releases for 2001

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