UK declares national event after polio virus found in London – Times of India

GENEVA: UK health authorities have declared a national event after evidence suggesting local spread polio virus in London. no case of polio identified so far, and the risk to the public is low. But health officials urged anyone Who? Not completely immunized against the polio virus, especially young children, to get the vaccine right away. “mostly UK population Childhood will be protected by vaccination, but in some communities with low vaccine coverage, individuals may be at risk,” said Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist for the UK Health Protection Agency. polio in uk That was in 1984, and the country was declared polio-free in 2003.
Routine surveillance of sewage in the country carries poliovirus once or twice a year, but between February and May, officials identified the virus in several samples collected in London, according to the WHO’s technical guidelines for vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccinations. Program in Europe according to official Dr. Shahin Lyubanov. Genetic analysis suggests that the samples have a common origin, most likely from an individual who traveled to the country around New Year’s, Lyubyanov said. The last four specimens collected appear to have developed from this initial introduction, possibly into unrelated children. British officials are now collecting additional samples and trying to identify the source of the virus. But the wastewater treatment plant that identified the samples involved about 4 million people, roughly half of the city, making it challenging to pinpoint the source.