New York state health officials on Wednesday declared polio an imminent threat to public health as part of an effort to bolster the response to the outbreak by local health officials, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced. 

The move comes on top of state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett previously declaring a disaster declaration for polio. 

The latest declaration by the state is meant to increase the ability of public health officials to deliver immunizations for polio after the first cases in a decade were initially discovered in Rockland County. Polio has been subsequently found in wastewater in New York City and the surrounding area. 

"From day one, we've taken an aggressive public health approach to combat the spread of polio and ensure New Yorkers are protected," Hochul said. "This declaration will bolster our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers against paralytic disease, prevent spread, and support our public health partners."

Public health officials at the county level will have expanded ability to receive funding and resources for immunization clinics and conduct outreach for unvaccinated and under-vaccinated New York residents. Local health officials will be able to claim a reimbursement for these efforts, back dated to July 21 and running through Dec. 31. 

"Working daily with local county health departments, our partners at CDC, and trusted leaders, the Department is working effectively to increase childhood and community vaccination rates in counties where the virus has been detected," Bassett said. "Thanks to long-established school immunization requirements, the vast majority of adults, and most children, are fully vaccinated against polio. Our focus remains on ensuring the on-time administration of polio vaccination among young children and catching kids and adults up who are unimmunized and under-immunized in the affected areas. That work continues at full force."

State officials have previously sought to boost vaccination efforts in areas of the state where polio was first and later repeatedly detected, including Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties.