Polio virus found in London sewage system samples

• The UK has declared a national incident following the detection of poliovirus in sewage samples.
• The disease may be spreading among “closely linked” persons.
• If an outbreak is verified, the UK will lose its designation as polio-free, which it has had since 2003.

The United Kingdom has declared a national incident following the detection of the polio virus in sewage samples, with health officials indicating that the disease may be spreading among “closely linked” persons.

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The UK Health Security Agency announced on Wednesday that it was conducting an investigation into the possibility of community transmission, or transmission between persons without recognized contacts.

No cases of polio have been discovered, and the HSA reports that the danger to the public remains “extremely low.” If an outbreak is verified, the United Kingdom will lose its designation as polio-free, which it has had since 2003.

According to the World Health Organization, polio, short for poliomyelitis, primarily affects children younger than five. In a tiny but considerable number of people, it can induce serious illness and paralysis.

After the virus was detected, Health Secretary Sajid Javid stated on Wednesday that he was “not really concerned” about polio.

He told the BBC: “That’s because the UK Health Security Agency, what they have explained to me is that through routine testing of wastewater in north-east London, they have detected vaccine-derived polio virus.”

“And they are tentatively having an investigation to learn more about that,” he added.

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Wednesday, public health officials asked parents to verify that their children’s immunizations were up-to-date for the best protection.

The final instance of wild polio, or polio unrelated to immunization, was recorded in the United Kingdom in 1984, according to the HSA.