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

[onthedarkside]

 

Officials believe there has been some spread between closely linked individuals in northeast London - probably extended family members

 

Traces of the polio virus have been found during a routine sewage inspection in London, leading the UK Health Security Agency to declare a national incident.

 

Health officials are now concerned about the community spread of the virus after samples were collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in London, but have stressed the risk to the public is extremely low.

 

Several closely-related polio viruses were found in sewage samples taken between February and May. It has continued to evolve and has now been classified as a 'vaccine-derived' poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2).

...

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

The virus presents a risk to anyone who has not been vaccinated, especially children and young adults.

 

(more)

 

https://news.sky.com/story/traces-of-polio-virus-found-in-london-sewage-as-health-officials-declare-national-incident-12638443