Highly-contagious polio spreading in UK for first time in years, leading UK health officials to declare a national incident.
Traces of the polio virus have been found in sewage in London, prompting the response from the UK Health Security Agency.
The infectious disease – which can cause flaccid paralysis – was found during a routine check after samples were collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.
Several closely-related polio viruses were found in samples between February and May this year.
It as now been classified as a ‘vaccine-derived’ poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) after evolving.
