No one's gotten sick yet—but danger lurks
he U.K.’s most recent case of polio occurred in 1984, and the disease was declared formally eradicated there in 2004. But the country is on edge this week after the poliovirus was discovered in several sewage samples in London, giving rise to what government health officials call a “national incident.” No new cases of polio have been confirmed in the U.K.
The virus that was detected in London wastewater is not the so-called “wild” poliovirus, which used to circulate freely around the world but has now been eradicated in all but two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rather, it is what is known as “vaccine-derived” poliovirus. There are two types of polio vaccines: the injectable version, which uses a killed virus to confer immunity, and the oral version, which uses a live but weakened virus.
Officials have no way of knowing who the original source of the virus is, but it was likely a visitor from another country, since the U.K. switched from the oral to the injectable vaccine in 2004 to prevent precisely this kind of vaccine-derived circulation. While 86.
Public health officials, meanwhile, are trying to trace the original source of the contaminated sewage through the wastewater plant where it was first identified. The problem is that that plant handles waste from millions of people, making finding even the neighborhood from which the virus originated, much less the individual, unlikely.
For now, the virus does not appear to be circulating widely in the community. If any infections do turn up, health officials would be able to type the strain of the virus and determine if it’s the same as the one that was isolated in the sewage sample. Either way, the London scare is one more reminder that global eradication of polio, a long-sought goal, is tantalizingly close.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Polio virus detected in London sewage samples: WHO, UKThe discovery in the London sewage samples suggests 'there may be localised spread of polio virus, most likely within individuals that are not up to date with polio immunisations,' Polio eradication expert says.
Weiterlesen »
Polio Virus Found in London Sewage Puts U.K. on High AlertThe U.K. Health Security Agency raised the alarm on Wednesday after it found several closely related polioviruses in sewage samples taken from a treatment facility in east London.
Weiterlesen »
Polio virus detected in London sewage samplesHealth officials say parents should ensure their children have been vaccinated against the disease.
Weiterlesen »
Poliovirus Found in U.K., Health Officials Urge Polio ImmunizationsPoliovirus Found in London, U.K., Health Officials Urge Polio Immunizations
Weiterlesen »
U.K. Declares National Incident After Polio Spreads for First Time in 40 YearsBritish public health authorities declared a national incident Wednesday after polio was found to be spreading in the U.K. for the first time in four decades.
Weiterlesen »
Polio: What is it and how does it spread?What is polio and how can you protect yourself from it?
Weiterlesen »