At the end of April, polio virus was again found in the sewers at the Utrecht Science Park in Bilthoven. This is a strain of the virus that is used for the production of the oral polio vaccine. Since it is a weakened strain and the sewage treatment plant switches off the virus, there has been no risk to public health.
Research
The find was made in a sample taken from the site’s sewage system on April 28. The Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) is conducting research to find out where the virus comes from. The IGJ has been designated in the Netherlands as the authority (National Authority for Containment, NAC) to supervise working with the polio virus.
Utrecht Science Park
There are four organizations working with the polio virus at the Utrecht Science Park in Bilthoven. Although not all organizations discharge to the well where the virus was found, the IGJ investigation initially focuses on all four organizations.
Three ways
There are three ways in which an active virus can inadvertently enter the sewer system: directly through a drain, through an infected employee (through the toilet) or through a visitor who has recently been vaccinated.
Since the discovery of infectious polio virus in the sewer system on the same site in July 2020, sewerage research has been carried out more often. Samples are now taken every three weeks.
Sewage treatment switches off poliovirus
The Netherlands has closed sewerage systems where sewage treatment switches off the polio virus. This system complies with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This means that if the polio virus is discovered in the sewage system, it does not pose a danger to public health.
Previous find
In February of this year, polio virus was also found in the same sewer. From all the investigations carried out by the institutions themselves, their conclusion was that they were not the source of the poliovirus that was found. The IGJ investigation has not yet been completed.
More information about polio can be found on the RIVM website:
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