Poland is ramping up efforts to vaccinate children against polio after regular tests this month showed the virus was detected in sewage samples, Poland’s health authorities said on Monday.
Detection of the Virus
The discovery of the virus in sewage has reignited concerns about the disease, which has largely been eradicated through global vaccination campaigns.
Poland’s Main Sanitary Inspectorate in a statement assured the public that the detection doesn’t necessarily signal active infections but emphasized the risks for unvaccinated individuals.
In response, vaccinations, offered free of charge to individuals under 19, are being strongly encouraged as a protective measure.
In addition, Poland has increased measures including more frequent and targeted sewage testing.
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What Is Polio?
Polio, a highly infectious disease, is one of the world’s most contagious viruses. It spreads primarily through contact with waste from infected individuals or, less commonly, via contaminated water or food.
While many infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to paralysis, often within hours, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Statistics show that one in every 200 infections results in permanent paralysis, typically affecting the legs.
What Are Poland’s Vaccination Rates?
Vaccination rates in Poland, though significant, fall short of the 95 percent threshold recommended to prevent outbreaks. While polio vaccines are highly effective at protecting against the disease, 86 percent of the nation’s three-year-olds are currently vaccinated.
In addition, health officials are growing increasingly concerned about the influence of anti-vaccine movements, which have gained traction in recent years.
The country has been polio-free since 1984, Poland’s inspectorate said, adding that maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial to preventing its resurgence.
Widespread use of polio vaccines, which began in the 1950s, helped to eradicate polio across most of the world, including the United States, although sporadic cases do still occur in countries even where the disease has technically been wiped out. The virus is endemic to some parts of the world with polio cases still detected in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In October, the spread of polio in Pakistan increased despite government efforts to combat the virus throughout the nation. This surge raised concerns among health officials as the country pushes forward with efforts to eliminate the disease.
The Associated Press (AP) reported at the time that Anwarul Haq of the National Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication said that Pakistan has recorded 32 new cases of polio since March.
However, Haq voiced optimism that the situation could improve in the months ahead as Pakistan was set to roll out a new nationwide anti-polio campaign on October 28. The initiative aims to vaccinate 32 million children across the country.
“We are conducting joint case investigations, preparing to implement high-quality vaccination rounds and providing high-risk communities with integrated health services to build children’s immunity,” Haq said, according to the AP.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
