Poliovirus is detected in sewage from north and east London

Vaccine derived poliovirus has been detected from several sewage samples in north and east London, and officials warn that the virus may be circulating in the community.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says that this was probably imported by someone who was recently vaccinated overseas with the live form of the virus. The live oral polio vaccine has not been used in the UK since 2004, when it was replaced with an injectable inactivated polio vaccine.

The UKHSA says that no associated cases of paralytic polio have been detected so far and that the risk to the public is low. But officials have urged people to ensure that their polio vaccines are …