Key result
Wastewater surveillance across 7 US jurisdictions detected two distinct vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 viruses in New York state and New York City, with no detections in other areas.
Why the study?
The value of routine wastewater surveillance for poliovirus apart from an outbreak is unclear, though wastewater testing can inform public health action during outbreak response.
Observational
Yes
Wastewater surveillance detected vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in New York, highlighting the ongoing risk of importation and the need for adequate vaccination coverage.
Highlights importation risk in under-vaccinated areas; leaves open optimal wastewater surveillance strategies.
Wastewater testing can inform public health action as a component of polio outbreak response. During 2022-2023, a total of 7 US jurisdictions (5 states and 2 cities) participated in prospective or retrospective testing of wastewater for poliovirus after a paralytic polio case was identified in New York state. Two distinct vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 viruses were detected in wastewater from New York state and New York City during 2022, representing 2 separate importation events. Of those viruses, 1 resulted in persistent community transmission in multiple New York counties and 1 paralytic case. No poliovirus was detected in the other participating jurisdictions (Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois and Chicago, IL). The value of routine wastewater surveillance for poliovirus apart from an outbreak is unclear. However, these results highlight the ongoing risk for poliovirus importations into the United States and the need to identify undervaccinated communities and increase vaccination coverage to prevent paralytic polio.
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Whitehouse et al. (2024) conducted an observational in Poliovirus. Wastewater surveillance was evaluated on Detection of poliovirus in wastewater. Wastewater surveillance across 7 US jurisdictions detected two distinct vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 viruses in New York state and New York City, with no detections in other areas.
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