All youngsters aged one to 9 in London are to be provided a dose of the polio vaccine, after extra of the virus was discovered within the metropolis’s sewers.
Vaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected in sewage in Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest.
The virus has additionally been present in decrease concentrations in areas adjoining to the Beckton catchment space to the south (instantly beneath the Thames) and to the east of Beckton.
However, it’s not clear whether or not the virus has established itself in these areas or if the detections are resulting from individuals from the affected space visiting these neighbouring areas.
There have been no confirmed instances of polio, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has mentioned the chance to the general public is low.
The NHS will contact dad and mom when it’s their kid’s flip to return ahead for a booster or catch-up polio dose. It will begin in areas the place the virus has been detected and the place vaccination charges are low, adopted by a speedy rollout throughout the remainder of the London boroughs.
Vaccine uptake in London is already decrease than in the remainder of the nation – at 90% having the right variety of vaccines, in comparison with 95% nationally.
Virus discovered throughout routine sewage inspection
The UK Health Security Agency declared a nationwide incident in June after traces of the virus have been discovered throughout routine surveillance on the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.
It is regular for one to 3 “vaccine-like” polioviruses to be detected annually in UK sewage samples, however they’ve at all times been one-off findings.
The latest discovery, nevertheless, has seen the virus detected in a variety of surveillances of the sewage.
Only a couple of of the samples had adequate mutations to be categorized as vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV2). However, VDPV2 is of better concern because it behaves extra like naturally occurring ‘wild’ polio and will, on uncommon events, result in instances of paralysis in unvaccinated people.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA mentioned: Polio is a critical an infection that may trigger paralysis however nationally the general threat is taken into account low as a result of most individuals are protected by vaccination.
“The last case of polio in the UK was in 1984, but decades ago before we introduced the polio vaccination programme around 8000 people would develop paralysis every year.
“It is significant dad and mom guarantee their youngsters are totally vaccinated for his or her age. Following JCVI recommendation all youngsters aged one to 9 years in London have to have a dose of polio vaccine now – whether or not it is an additional booster dose or simply to meet up with their routine vaccinations. It will guarantee a excessive stage of safety from paralysis. This can also assist cease the virus spreading additional.”
What is polio and the way does it unfold?
There have been no confirmed instances of paralysis resulting from polio caught within the UK since 1984.
Polio is a contagious virus that may be transmitted by coughs and sneezes, but additionally by meals, water, or objects which were involved with the faeces of somebody contaminated with it.
It has flu-like signs, together with: a excessive temperature, excessive tiredness, complications, vomiting, a stiff neck and muscle ache. These normally final for ten days, however can lead to extra critical signs – and is doubtlessly life threatening.
It primarily impacts youngsters underneath the age of 5, though it could additionally impression unvaccinated adults.
The virus has been eradicated in most components of the world resulting from a profitable world vaccination programme, however it’s nonetheless present in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
Vaccines are given to youngsters at eight, 12 and 16 weeks with booster doses administered at three years, 4 months and once more at aged 14. The new vaccine might be along with the childhood immunisation programme.
All 5 vaccines are required to be totally protected in opposition to the virus.
Source: information.sky.com”