The polio virus, which was previously considered extinct in Europe, has been discovered in wastewater in five European countries, including Germany, Spain, Poland, the UK and Finland. The finds have taken place in several different cities between September and December 2024, as the German newspaper Photo Be the first to report.
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No reported cases
No infection cases in humans have been reported, but experts emphasize that finds are a warning of the risks if vaccination levels fall. Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious paralysis and in some cases deaths. There is no treatment for the disease, but the vaccine is considered very effective.
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Risk of new eruptions
EU countries with a low vaccination rate, such as Romania, Poland and Hungary, are at greatest risk of new eruptions. Health authorities recommend people traveling to high -risk areas to review their vaccination protection.
Researchers and authorities now emphasize the importance of maintaining a high level of vaccination to prevent the virus from reinforcing. Surveillance via sewage samples has been shown to be an important method for detecting the virus in time and preventing future outbreaks.
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