Arabic version: تم الكشف عن فيروس شلل الأطفال في مياه الصرف الصحي في بيرث، خطر منخفض على الجمهور

Health officials in Perth have announced the detection of a vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2 strain in the city’s wastewater. This finding, reported in mid-April, is linked to overseas transmission and mirrors similar detections in regions such as Africa, Europe, and Papua New Guinea in recent years. According to ABC News, Western Australia’s chief health officer, Dr. Clare Huppatz, emphasized that while this is a significant finding, it poses a very low risk to the local population.

Dr. Huppatz noted that the detection does not indicate the spread of the disease within Western Australia. The state’s vaccination coverage among children stands at 92 percent, which greatly reduces the potential for the virus to circulate in the community. She pointed out that similar detections in Europe during 2024 and 2025 did not result in any reported cases of polio.

The WA Department of Health has responded by increasing the frequency of wastewater testing for poliovirus in the Perth metropolitan area. This proactive measure aims to monitor any potential risks associated with the virus, particularly as it continues to circulate in some overseas regions.

Australia was declared polio-free in 2000, with the last known local transmission occurring in 1972. The introduction of the polio vaccine in 1956 significantly reduced the number of cases. However, health officials remind the public of the importance of maintaining vaccination, especially for those who travel internationally, as the risk of polio importation remains a concern.