The last documented case of polio in Britain was in 1984.
The kingdom has been polio-free since 2003.
But now the authorities are sounding the alarm.
LONDON - On June 21, 2022, it was exactly 20 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe polio-free.
The last documented case of polio in a European country was in Turkey in 1998.
Great Britain has been polio-free for a little longer.
The last case of polio was discovered in 1984.
But after almost 40 years, the virus is back.
The UK is even at risk of losing its polio-free status with the WHO.
Cases of the rare viral infection monkeypox have only recently been increasing in Great Britain.
Polio: virus finds in London's sewage indicate spread
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has declared a nationwide incident after poliovirus was detected in North London sewage.
Routine monitoring at the Beckton sewage treatment plant in Newham in February tested positive for vaccine-derived poliovirus waste, the UK Health Security Agency said, according to
The Guardian
.
Since then, more positive samples have surfaced.
Officials believe the virus has spread in a limited way.
The fact that poliovirus strains are detected in wastewater happens again and again.
But the findings since February have raised alarm among the authorities because they were related and mutations indicate that the virus evolves through transmission.
Polio: Authorities in Great Britain call for vaccinations
While no new case of polio has been reported and the risk to the general public is considered low, authorities have urged people to check vaccination status.
“On rare occasions, it can cause paralysis in people who are not fully vaccinated.
So if you or your child are not up to date on your polio vaccinations, it's important that you contact your GP to catch up," said Dr.
Vanessa Saliba, Consulting Epidemiologist at the UKHSA.
The authority now wants to take samples from areas that direct their wastewater into the Beckton treatment plant.
This is to find out where the polio virus is spreading.
According to scientists, eradicating Covid-19 would be easier than eradicating polio.
(mt)