Sewage in part of Essex to be tested for polio virus
Testing is being rolled out in Castle Point - amid fears the virus is spreading outside London
Last updated 15th Sep 2022
Tests for the spread of poliovirus are being conducted in south Essex in response to a re-emergence of the serious pathogen.
Sewage in Castle Point is being checked for polio. The virus has previously been found in sewage samples collected from the London Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, which covers parts of North and East London.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) working with the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency (MHRA) say the testing rollout beyond there is on a precautionary basis to determine whether the virus is spreading to other areas.
The UKHSA say these areas have been chosen on the basis of an assessment of risk, which takes into consideration a number of factors.
This includes demographics – including population groups living in the area with links to countries overseas where wild poliovirus is still found or where live oral polio vaccine is still used.
It also takes into account areas with low polio vaccination coverage, areas with pockets of under-vaccinated communities and areas adjacent to the locations in London where poliovirus has been detected.
The Government adds it is now more important than ever to ensure children are fully vaccinated.
In Essex there is relatively high uptake of the teenage booster against the virus. In 2020/21 the Essex County Council authority area saw a 85 per cent uptake of the booster in 13 and 14-year-olds.
In Thurrock the rate was 83.7 per cent while in Southend it was 90.3 per cent.
The numbers of children vaccinated by their fifth birthday was also high – 97.1 per cent in Essex, 95.5 per cent in Thurrock and 95.5 per cent in Southend. The average in England was 95.2 per cent.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low.
"We are now expanding the sewage sampling nationally to areas that are at highest risk of new poliovirus importations and areas most likely to see spread of poliovirus from London.
"We are in touch with public health colleagues in these areas and will work closely with local areas as the need arises.
“In the meantime it is vital parents across the country check their children are fully vaccinated for their age. Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), all children aged one to nine years in London need to have a dose of polio vaccine now – whether it’s an extra booster dose or just to catch up.
"It will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis. This may also help stop the virus spreading further.”
The additional sites where the sampling will be rolled out are Sewage Treatment Works covering parts of Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, City of Bristol, Bury, Castle Point, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, North Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Nottingham, Preston, Salford, Sheffield and Watford.