Polio virus found in United Kingdom sewage samples; risk to public low

Highlights

Health officials in Britain warned parents to ensure their children been vaccinated against polio
Polio virus that causes the disease was found in London sewage samples in recent months
The UK Health Security Agency said it believes the virus was vaccine-derived

Health officials in Britain warned parents on Wednesday (June 22) to ensure their children have been vaccinated against polio after the virus that causes the disease was found in London sewage samples in recent months.

The UK Health Security Agency said it believes the virus was “vaccine-derived,” meaning it came from someone who received the live polio vaccine abroad. That person would then have passed the virus to closely linked individuals in London, who shed the virus into their feces.

The UK stopped using the live oral polio vaccine in 2004 and switched to an inactivated version.

Polio, which was officially eradicated in the U.K. in 2003, can cause paralysis in rare cases and can be life-threatening.

Authorities stressed that the risk to the public overall is “extremely low.” They added that the virus has been detected only in sewage samples, and no cases of paralysis have been reported.

Still, they asked people to check that their children are fully vaccinated and to contact their doctor if unsure.

What health experts say in this regard?

“Most of the UK population will be protected from vaccination in childhood, but in some communities with low vaccine coverage, individuals may remain at risk,” said Dr. Vanessa Saliba, an epidemiologist at the health agency.

“Vaccine-derived polio virus has the potential to spread, particularly in communities where vaccine uptake is lower,” she said.

Authorities are investigating the extent of community transmission and has established a “national incident” to check for cases elsewhere as a precaution.