The strain, which can cause severe conditions, including poliomyelitis, spinal cord inflammation, or paralysis, is of particular danger to those who are unvaccinated.
Chief Sanitary Inspector, Paweł Grzesiowski, said: “This does not mean we have cases of the disease among people.
“However, a mutated virus has appeared, which may pose a risk to unvaccinated individuals.”
Dr. Magdalena Wieczorek, a specialist in infectious diseases, said that the strain is not a typical virus but one that has undergone multiple mutations through person-to-person transmission.
Polio transmission occurs primarily via the oral-fecal route or respiratory droplets.
While many infections are asymptomatic, severe cases can lead to permanent paralysis or death in 10% of cases.
Authorities call for vaccination
In a joint statement, the Chief Sanitary Inspector, the National Consultant for Infectious Diseases, and the National Consultant for Epidemiology have now urged those living in the city to vaccinate against polio as soon as possible.
They have particularly appealed to parents to ensure their children receive injections as polio has no cure.
The Sanitary Inspection said it has now increased sewage monitoring in the capital and intensified surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis cases in children under 15.
Stockpiles of polio vaccines have been updated, and healthcare providers have been notified to encourage vaccination.
Schools have also joined awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of completing vaccination schedules.
Although there have been no cases of polio in Europe for decades, the threat of disease reintroduction into the area remains significant, as cases continue to be documented in various parts of the globe, increasing the likelihood of international transmission of polioviruses.
The last polio cases in Poland were recorded in 1982 and 1984, but cases persist in some regions of Asia and Africa, warranting continued vigilance.
In 2022, there were 30 cases of polio attributed to wild poliovirus, with 20 reported in Pakistan, two in Afghanistan, and eight cases in Mozambique.
