Modern Tools to Combat an Ancient Enemy: Environmental Surveillance for Poliovirus

Wild-type poliovirus transmission is currently limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but spread of oral attenuated vaccine–derived poliovirus (VDPV) infection has occurred in multiple countries. Recently, an unvaccinated person in New York State was diagnosed with acute flaccid lower extremity weakness caused by VDPV that was also detected in wastewater samples, indicating community transmission. Now, culture-based and molecular techniques have been employed to confirm circulation of VDPV in London, England.

Sewage samples collected between January and July 2022 from multiple sites were concentrated, cultured, and sequenced. A total of 118 genetically linked poliovirus isolates were detected in almost half of the sequential sewage samples. Th…