Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has sounded the alarm over the detection of a poliovirus strain linked to Nigeria in 14 European cities.
The Type 2 poliovirus was found in wastewater samples in Germany, Spain, Poland, Finland, and the United Kingdom, prompting concerns about a potential outbreak. According to the ECDC, this poliovirus variant was first identified in Nigeria in 2020, a country that was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in the same year.
The ECDC has warned that insufficient vaccination rates among European children pose a significant risk of a polio outbreak. It’s estimated that 2.4 million children in the EU and European Economic Area may not have been vaccinated against polio between 2012 and 2021.
“Every country must remain vigilant for the detection of the presence of the poliovirus through surveillance systems, be ready to act quickly if any circulation of the virus is detected, and commit to maintaining high vaccination coverage in every community annually until global eradication of poliomyelitis is achieved,” emphasized the ECDC director.
The ECDC has advised increased vaccination rates to prevent a possible outbreak. Europe was declared polio-free in 2002, but the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples in recent years highlights the need for continued vigilance.
The World Health Organization has also warned that as long as any form of poliovirus is spreading anywhere in the world, it can be imported, leading to outbreaks if vaccination rates are low.
