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Warsaw, Poland – Poland’s health authorities are urging parents to vaccinate their children against polio after traces of the virus were detected in sewage during routine testing in Warsaw this month. The detection has prompted concerns despite the fact that the presence of the virus in the city’s wastewater does not necessarily indicate that people have fallen ill.
The Main Sanitary Inspectorate of Poland issued a statement on Monday, emphasizing that the virus’s presence in sewage could potentially expose unvaccinated individuals to risk. The authorities have reassured the public that vaccinations for those under 19 years old remain free across the country.
In response to the finding, Poland has implemented new health measures, including enhanced surveillance of sewage in Warsaw, replenishing vaccine supplies, and updating the list of children who have not yet been vaccinated. Polio, a disease typically spread through contact with waste from an infected person or, in rarer cases, contaminated food or water, mainly affects children under the age of 5.
Polio can often present with no symptoms in those infected, but in severe cases, the virus can invade the nervous system and lead to paralysis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 200 polio cases results in permanent paralysis, typically of the legs. The disease has been nearly eradicated globally through widespread vaccination campaigns, but experts are still warning of its potential for serious consequences.
Poland’s Main Sanitary Inspectorate reported that approximately 86% of the country’s 3-year-olds have received the polio vaccine, but health officials warn that achieving vaccination coverage of at least 95% is crucial to preventing further transmission of the virus. This call to action comes amid rising concerns about anti-vaccination movements that have gained traction in some parts of the country.
Poland has not seen a case of polio since 1984, but the latest detection highlights the ongoing risks of the virus, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates. Authorities are urging parents to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations, particularly as the virus could resurface in regions with gaps in immunity.
As the situation develops, health officials are emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance, testing, and vaccination to protect Poland’s children from this potentially devastating disease.
