Poliovirus has already been found in the sewer of three European countries named Germany, Poland, and Spain. No case of polio disease is being reported in those countries yet. The presence of the virus in the sewage does sound as a warning of spreading it if gaps of its immunization exist anywhere.
Polio or poliomyelitis is a very contagious disease and it typically affects children aged between five and six, with worse cases having paralysis. The Europe was considered polio-free back in the year 2002, although the virus has still spread in most regions, with Afghanistan and Pakistan still regarded as its hotbed areas. It’s such incidents, as with poliovirus sightings recently discovered in cities such as Warsaw, Barcelona, Munich, and Hamburg, which warn of continuous risks from entry and multiplication of the disease in the European continent.
Health experts emphasize the need for strengthening vaccination activities and disease monitoring in order to prevent further virus spread. In Poland, vaccination coverage among children at one year of age has been reported to stand at 85%, a position that ranks among the worst in Europe. In contrast, Spain and Germany stood at 93% and 91% respectively. To guard the community, experts advise 95% immunization coverage for children and adolescents, while the high national vaccination rate will mask local disparities.
Detection of poliovirus in wastewater is not a rare occurrence, as people receiving the oral polio vaccine excrete the weakened form of the virus. Even so, in sanitary communities like those in Europe, the chances of mass distribution are very low, although, in poorly sanitized or not immunized areas, the mutated version of the virus might just cause paralysis.
Poliovirus present in wastewater also signifies potential dangers from international traveling. Some migrants coming from high-risk countries, for example, Afghanistan and Pakistan, lack proper vaccinations, hence remain vulnerable to the virus. In response to this, the Polish authorities have started conducting more tests of wastewater, and the German government has allowed free tests for medical clinics.
Initiatives by the global health sector to eradicate polio are still ongoing, occasioned by challenges such as vaccine accessibility and outbreaks in troubled regions like Gaza, which recently confirmed the re-emergence of polio after 25 years of absence. Europe remains alert, but experts underscore that sustained vigilance and vaccination efforts will be necessary in curtailing further spread of the disease.
