Polio virus: 24 photos of 1950s outbreak: Elvis Presley, Diane Sawyer - Insider

• New York City Health Department officials announced on August 12 that they've identified traces of the poliovirus in the city's sewage system.
• Since 1979, there have been no cases of wild polio originating in the US, according to the CDC.
• Before vaccines were made available in 1955, the disease caused 15,000 cases of paralysis each year in the US. 
• Here's a look back at 25 photos from that time period. 

In the 1950s, cases of poliovirus ravaged the US, with hospitals wards brimming with disabled or severely ill patients, according to the National Library of Medicine.

At the outbreak's peak in 1952, polio infections caused 20,000 cases of paralysis, leaving families with no choice but to isolate in fear, as the disease was once one of the most transmissible diseases among kids. 

In 1955, an effective polio vaccine was introduced by Dr. Jonas Salk, which dramatically reduced infections. The virus was eliminated in the US in 1979, but it can still be brought to the country by travelers, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

On August 12, The New York City Department of Health announced polio had been identified in New York City's sewage system.

Dr. Jay Varma, director of the Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response at Weill Cornell Medicine, previously told Insider that New Yorkers who are vaccinated have nothing to worry about yet, but if you're unvaccinated, you should "rush" to get shots.

She said seeing polio in New York is a "worrisome sign," and "an indication that our public health infrastructure is not as strong as it needs to be to keep Americans safe."

Most people who contract the virus will experience mild symptoms, but infection can lead to paralysis in one out of 200 patients, according to the CDC.

Just the mention of polio in 2022 conjures up images of a 1950s America, with kids lined up to receive vaccines and patients confined to iron lung respirators at the endemic's height.

Here are 25 historic photos illustrating the impact of the disease and the distribution of vaccines.