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Between September and December 2024, 4 nations within the EU/EEA (Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain) and the UK reported detections of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus kind 2 (cVDPV2) in sewage samples. That is the primary time cVDPV2 has been detected in EU/EEA nations from environmental surveillance.
So far, no human polio circumstances have been reported and the EU/EEA continues to be polio-free, however such findings name for elevated vigilance.
Laboratory analyses probably point out that the virus has been repeatedly launched from an unknown space the place that particular type of the virus continues to be in circulation. These current importations could pose a risk to public well being within the EU/EEA and must be monitored intently based on a Speedy Threat Evaluation revealed as we speak by ECDC on this subject.
“Europe has been polio-free for more than 20 years. We have to remain vigilant, maintain high vaccination rates and close any vaccination gaps that exist to prevent any return of this serious disease,” stated Pamela Rendi-Wagner, ECDC Director.
Poliovirus is extremely infectious and might be transmitted simply and silently throughout vast geographical areas. Subsequently, whereas the EU/EEA continues to stay polio-free, it’s important to keep up ample vaccine-induced immunity. Polio is a probably debilitating illness and no particular remedy is on the market in opposition to the virus. Vaccination is the one efficient technique of defending in opposition to extreme illness attributable to poliovirus.
Though the vast majority of EU/EEA nations report vaccination protection above 90% on the nationwide degree, subnational information reveal a way more heterogeneous image, with solely 39% of reporting districts reaching 90% vaccination protection, which requires fixed evaluation of vaccination methods and vaccination protection from each nationwide and sub-national views.
Moreover, based on ECDC estimates, round 600 000 youngsters aged 12–23 months could not have acquired a full main polio vaccination course in 2022 and 2023.
The general threat amongst vaccinated populations is assessed to be very low, regardless of the extent of vaccination protection. The general threat amongst beneath or unvaccinated populations is assessed to be low in areas with excessive vaccination protection and average in areas with low vaccination protection.
If polio circumstances happen, Member States ought to activate a nationwide poliomyelitis response plan; clinicians, significantly pediatricians, must be made conscious concerning the potential for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) circumstances attributable to poliovirus.
Based mostly on the evaluation, ECDC recommends public well being authorities reinforce routine childhood vaccination packages to attain and preserve at the very least 90% protection throughout all ranges of society. It additionally requires well timed immunization catch-up campaigns focusing on people with incomplete or unknown vaccination standing, significantly in areas of suboptimal protection or the place environmental sampling has detected the virus.
Moreover, authorities are suggested to keep up ample shares of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and to make sure that all populations with unknown polio vaccination historical past obtain the vaccine.
International locations are additionally inspired to strengthen environmental surveillance to shortly detect any additional introductions or circulation of the virus. By bettering information assortment and surveillance techniques, EU/EEA nations can higher determine gaps in vaccination, adapt response methods, and talk successfully with the general public.
Moreover, public well being authorities ought to develop tailor-made, context-specific, culturally delicate interventions to extend vaccination uptake and conduct threat communication actions to focus on the significance of making certain well timed routine vaccination.
ECDC will proceed to work intently with nationwide authorities and worldwide companions to observe the state of affairs, present steering, and help efforts to keep up excessive vaccination ranges. By way of these collective measures, the EU/EEA goals to stop poliovirus from returning to communities and safeguard them in opposition to a completely preventable illness.
Extra info:
Report: Assessing the danger to public well being of a number of detections of poliovirus in wastewater within the EU/EEA
Supplied by
European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC)
Quotation:
Detection of poliovirus in EU sewage samples requires enhanced vaccination and elevated surveillance: Report (2025, January 31)
retrieved 1 February 2025
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