Should we be concerned about polio reappearing in our sewage?

The presence of poliovirus in wastewater may indeed be a cause for vigilance, but not necessarily for panic. Finding poliovirus in wastewater indicates that the virus is circulating in a certain population.

Many countries have wastewater monitoring systems to detect poliovirus early. This helps to detect potential outbreaks before they spread.

In areas with high vaccination rates, the risk of transmission and disease is very low. Vaccination effectively protects against both wild poliovirus and derived polioviruses. In regions with low vaccination rates, unvaccinated people may be vulnerable.

Polio has not yet been completely eradicated. The virus is still present in 150 countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, and travel can spread the virus. Areas with low vaccination rates or where only the oral vaccine has been administered are vulnerable, which can facilitate the spread of the virus.

Doctors will advise people from high-risk countries who have only received the oral polio vaccine to still receive the injectable vaccine. People who have been in contact with incompletely vaccinated people should also have their vaccination checked by their doctor.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2025-01-18 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025