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

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

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).

Officials believe there has been some spread between closely linked individuals in northeast London – probably extended family members – and that these people are now shedding the type 2 poliovirus strain in their faeces.

Urgent investigations will try to establish the extent of community transmission and to identify where it may be occurring.