Health experts have issued an alert as cases of a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis have been found in wastewater samples in the UK. Four instances of polio have been detected in environmental sewage in Leeds (two samples), London and West Sussex.
More specifically, the samples tested positive for vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2), Travel Health Pro reports.
This is a strain related to the weakened live poliovirus contained in oral polio vaccine (OPV).
Polio was eradicated in Europe in 2003 due to the vaccine, which is offered in the UK as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule.
However, a case of VDPV2 was also reported to be detected in wastewater samples in Finland this month.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine-derived polioviruses emerge when “not enough people are vaccinated against polio”, and the weakened strain of the poliovirus from OPV spreads among under-immunised populations.
It can be transmitted from person-to-person, mainly through contact with the poo of an infected person – from not washing your hands properly and putting them in your mouth – or by contaminated water or food. Most people infected with polio do not experience symptoms.
However, some people get mild, flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, fatigue, vomiting and muscle pain. In rare cases it can lead to more serious symptoms that affect the brain and nerves, such as weakness in your muscles (paralysis), usually in the legs.
“This can happen over hours or days,” the NHS warns. “If the paralysis affects the muscles used for breathing, it can be life threatening.
“Most people will recover, and movement will slowly come back over the next few weeks. Some people can be left with permanent disability.”
At the start of this year the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that four human cases of VDPV2 were found in Indonesia in 2022 and 2023. The WHO said: “Coordination across country and regional levels with the global polio eradication initiative is ongoing. The overall risk is assessed as high at the national level. At the regional level the overall risk is assessed to be moderate.”
Regarding the strains detected in the UK, Travel Health Pro added: “To date there is no evidence of community transmission and the risk to the public is low.”
What to do if you think you have polio
The NHS says you should call 111 if you have flu-like symptoms and:
- You’re worried about a baby’s or child’s symptoms
- You’re 65 or over
- You’re pregnant
- You have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
- You have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV
- Your symptoms do not improve after seven days
You should call 999 if you:
- Are not able to move part, or all, of your body – the body part may also feel stiff, floppy or numb
- Are having difficulty breathing or are breathless
Polio vaccines
The best way to prevent polio is to make sure you and your child are up to date with your vaccinations.The polio vaccine is given to children at:
- Eight, 12 and 16 weeks old as part of the six-in-one vaccine
- Three years, four months old as part of the four-in-one pre-school booster
- 14 years old as part of the three-in-one teenage booster
It is important to note you need all five of these vaccinations to be fully vaccinated against polio. The NHS says you can contact your GP surgery to check if you, or your child, are up to date with your polio vaccinations.
“If you are not up to date, book an appointment with your GP surgery to get vaccinated free on the NHS,” the health body adds.
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