Health officials warn of polio virus detection in London sewage samples

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have said the virus that causes polio has been detected in a worrying number of sewage samples in London.

The disease which was common throughout the UK in the 1950s was eliminated by 2003.

It is believed the latest strain may have been imported to London by someone who was recently vaccinated overseas with a live form of the virus.

Although the risk is low, parents have been advised that they should ensure their children have been fully immunised against the disease.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said “Most of the UK population will be protected from vaccination in childhood, but in some communities with low vaccine coverage, individuals may remain at risk.”

Currently, an inactivated polio vaccine is used in the UK as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. It is given to children three times before the age of one, and then again at three and 14 years of age.

Over the last four months, the UKHSA has located the virus in samples collected from the Beckton sewage works, which serves a population of four million in north and east London. Scientists believe the virus may have originated from someone who was immunised abroad with the live oral polio vaccine, which hasn’t been used in the UK since 2004.

Jane Clegg, chief nurse for the NHS in London, said the health service were planning to contact parents of children under five in the area who are not up to date with their childhood jabs.

She added “Parents can also check their child’s vaccination status in their red book, and people should contact their GP practice to book a vaccination should they or their child not be fully up to date.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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