Polio Virus Detected in London Sewage – Alarm Bells Sound in East London
Vaccine-like type 2 poliovirus (PV2) has been found in multiple sewage samples collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in East London between February and June 2022. This plant serves nearly 4 million people across North and East London.
Worrying Virus Evolution Sparks Investigation
Experts confirmed the virus has evolved, showing 6 to 7 nucleotide changes from the original Sabin 2 vaccine strain. This means it is now a vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV2). Unlike previous isolated poliovirus findings in UK sewage, these samples are genetically linked, raising fears over ongoing transmission in Northeast London.
The most likely source? A person recently immunised with oral polio vaccine (OPV) arriving from a country still using OPV, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Nigeria. The UK stopped using OPV in 2004.
Health Officials on High Alert for Polio Cases
The UK’s national polio surveillance team has urged health workers to report any new cases of acute flaccid paralysis or myelitis (AFP/AFM) that don’t have clear non-infectious causes. AFP/AFM causes rapid limb weakness and can affect breathing and swallowing muscles, worsening within 10 days.
“Acute flaccid paralysis/myelitis is characterised by sudden weakness with reduced reflexes in the limbs,” experts warn.
Polio: No Cure, Just Supportive Care
Though polio can’t be cured, treatments focus on easing symptoms, speeding recovery, and preventing complications. These include:
- Antibiotics to fight infections in weakened muscles
- Painkillers for discomfort
- Moderate exercise and a healthy diet
Europe was declared polio-free in 2002, but cases still pop up occasionally—like two vaccine-derived polio cases in Ukraine in 2015.
Know the Symptoms
Most infected show no symptoms, but some experience:
- Fever and fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Neck stiffness
- Limb pain
- Sudden muscle weakness
With poliovirus lurking in London’s sewage, experts warn vigilance is vital to stop any outbreak in its tracks.
