Traces of polio virus found in London sewage as health officials declare national incident | UK News

Traces of the polio virus were found during a routine sewage test in London, prompting the UK Health Security Agency to declare a national incident.

Health officials are now extremely concerned about the spread of the virus in the community after samples were collected from the Beckton Wastewater Treatment Plant in London.

Several closely related polioviruses were found in wastewater samples taken between February and May. It has continued to grow and is now classified as a ‘sourced’ polio virus. vaccine origin’ (VDPV2).

Officials believe there has been some closely linked individual transmission in north-east London – possibly extended family members – and these people are currently shedding strains of the polio virus. type 2 in their feces.

Urgent investigations will attempt to determine the extent of community transmission and determine where it may be occurring.

What is polio, have people in the UK been vaccinated against it and what is the risk to the public?

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Vaccine-derived poliovirus is very rare and the risk to the general public is extremely low.

“Vaccine-derived poliovirus has the potential to spread, especially in communities where vaccine uptake is lower. In rare cases, the virus can cause paralysis. in people who are not fully immunized, so if you or your child is not up to date with your polio vaccine, it is important that you contact your GP to make sure or, if unsure, get it. check your red book.

“Most of the UK population will be protected from childhood vaccinations, but in some communities with low vaccine coverage, individuals may still be at risk.

“We are urgently investigating to better understand the extent of this transmission and the NHS has been asked to promptly report any suspected cases to UKHSA, although no cases have been reported or confirmed yet. received so far.”

It is likely that the virus was spread by someone who was recently vaccinated against polio in a country that has not been ruled out, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan or Nigeria.

To date, the virus has only been detected in wastewater samples and no associated paralysis has been reported.

It is normal for one to three “vaccine-like” polioviruses to be detected each year in UK wastewater samples, but these are always the only findings that are unrelated and then change. pass away.

This is the first time a similar virus has been detected several months apart since the last case in 1984.

The previous findings occurred when an individual received a live oral polio vaccine overseas (OPV) returned to or traveled to the UK and quickly “detected” traces of the virus. vaccine-like poliovirus in their feces.

This virus can happen to anyone who has not been vaccinated, especially children and young adults. Rates of use of the polio vaccine among children are high nationally, but in London it is much lower.

The main course of polio vaccine is given to infants at two, three and four months. Three doses are required to complete the main course. In the UK it is given as part of a six-in-one vaccine. In the UK, by the time children are two years old, almost 95% of them will have had all three of those vaccines. In London, where the virus was discovered, the number dropped to just under 90%.

Over the past five to 10 years, health officials say they have seen a slow and steady decline in adoption of the childhood immunization program. Vaccine coverage for the early childhood booster, which is offered to children when they turn three, is 71% in London. That’s the same number for the teen boosters offered to kids in the ninth grade.

“The majority of Londoners are fully protected against polio and will not need to take any further action, but the NHS will initiate contact,” said Jane Clegg, NHS chief nurse in London. with parents of children under the age of 5 in London not updating on their polio vaccinations to invite them to be protected.

“Meanwhile, parents can also check their child’s immunization status in the red book and residents should contact their GP to schedule an immunization if their child is not fully updated.”

The polio virus can infect a person’s spinal cord and the nerves at the base of the brain, causing paralysis, and in more severe cases, it can be life-threatening.

But most people with polio will not have any symptoms and will fight the infection without even realizing they have been infected. A small number of people will develop a flu-like illness 3 to 21 days after they become infected.

It spreads easily from person to person mainly through the fecal-oral route, when an infected person does not wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom and then touching other people’s food/drinks – and is less common. rather than through coughing and sneezing. The virus multiplies in the intestines, and infected people excrete large amounts of the virus in their stools.

The Beckton London Sewerage has a catchment area of ​​more than four million people and that represents a significant challenge for health officials.

If more virus samples are identified, the emergency can be extended to the next level, where targeted interventions will be available – including small batch vaccinations and stool sample collection. from areas where poliovirus has been found.