Is Rotary Reporting Polio in London?
No, not really.
It is normal for vaccine-derived poliovirus to be detected in the UK’s routine sewerage sampling 2-3 times each year. These are as a result of someone (probably a child) arriving in the UK who has recently received an oral polio vaccine and shedding the vaccine virus in their feces. Totally normal and nothing to worry about.
What is different about the London situation is that several closely related viruses have been found in the same area in samples taken between February and May. It is likely there has been some spread between closely-linked individuals in North and East London.
This vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) is not a problem if the population is fully vaccinated but London has childhood immunisation rates of around 86%, lower than the national average.
How is this being managed?
- Water sampling has been extended to get a clearer picture of the outbreak.
- Parents are being encouraged to check their children’s immunisation status and make appointments to catch up on where doses are missing.
- General practices and checking their vaccination records and inviting parents to bring children in who are behind with polio doses.
This is yet another example of the importance of everyone receiving recommended vaccines on time.
District 9930 Polio Chair