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Routine environmental surveillance in Israel has detected poliovirus in sewage samples collected from central Israel and the Jerusalem area, home to roughly one million residents. The announcement, made by Israel’s Ministry of Health on April 24, 2025, follows regular monitoring efforts aimed at tracking the presence of the virus in the environment.
No Recent Human Cases Reported
Despite the detection of poliovirus in sewage, health authorities have clarified that there have been no recent cases of polio reported in the population as of April 27, 2025. This suggests that while the virus is circulating in the environment, it has not resulted in new cases of paralytic disease. Previous instances of poliovirus detections in Israel have also been identified through environmental sampling, with the last confirmed cases in children occurring in March 2023.
Ongoing Vaccination Efforts and Policy Changes
Israel has a long-standing policy of offering polio vaccination services nationwide. In a recent policy update, the country discontinued the use of the live attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV) as of March 2025, switching exclusively to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which is the same formulation used in the United States1. This move aligns with global efforts to minimize the risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus, a rare but known complication associated with the oral vaccine.
Regional and Global Context
The detection of poliovirus in Israel comes amid ongoing global concerns about polio transmission. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reissued a Global Polio Alert, identifying 38 countries where the virus remains a public health emergency, though Israel was not specifically named in the latest advisory. Neighboring Gaza, however, continues to face challenges with polio, prompting mass vaccination campaigns to curb the spread of the virus.
Travel Recommendations
Health authorities in several countries, including the UK and the U.S., advise travelers to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza to ensure their polio vaccinations are up to date. Adults who completed their routine polio vaccine series may receive a single lifetime booster dose to extend their protection, particularly when visiting areas where the virus has been detected in the environment.
“Travellers to Israel, or the West Bank and Gaza in Palestine, should also make sure they have had a polio containing vaccine in the past 10 years.”
UK National Travel Health Network and Centre
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available as of April 28, 2025, from official sources and public health reports. The situation regarding poliovirus detections and public health recommendations may change as new data emerge. For the latest guidance, consult your local health authority or the World Health Organization.
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