Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Detected in Hamburg Wastewater, Risk to Public Low

Wild Poliovirus Detected in Hamburg Sewage

Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been identified in a wastewater sample collected in Hamburg, Germany. The detection, reported to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) on November 10, 2025, and to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on November 11, 2025, stems from a sample taken during the week of October 6, 2025. This marks the first detection of wild poliovirus from environmental sampling in Germany since routine monitoring commenced in 2021, and the first in Europe since 2010.

German authorities, including the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), have confirmed the finding, noting that no human cases of polio have been reported in connection with this detection. The European region continues to be polio-free.

Origin and Public Health Assessment

Genetic sequencing of the detected WPV1 indicates a strong similarity to a genetic cluster found in Afghanistan, one of only two countries where wild poliovirus currently circulates, the other being Pakistan. While the exact point of entry into the wastewater system cannot be definitively determined, the RKI suggests the virus was excreted by at least one person present in Hamburg at the time the sample was collected.

Despite the detection, the risk to the general population in Germany and across Europe is considered very low. This assessment is primarily attributed to the region's generally high vaccination rates, with most EU/EEA countries reporting coverage above 90%. The RKI emphasized that cases of virus detection in wastewater are considered 'isolated'.

Response and Historical Context

In response to the finding, health authorities in Hamburg have established an expert task force on infection control and plan to collect additional samples. This detection underscores the effectiveness of Germany's robust environmental surveillance system, which enabled the virus to be identified in the absence of any reported human cases.

The last indigenous case of wild poliovirus infection in Germany was recorded in 1990, with the last imported cases occurring in 1992. This recent finding serves as a reminder that as long as polio is not eradicated globally, all countries remain susceptible to the importation of the virus. Beate Kampmann, scientific director at the Center for Global Health at Charité in Berlin, highlighted this ongoing risk, stating, 'Polio anywhere means a potential risk of polio everywhere.'

Polio and Vaccination

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It can lead to paralysis or even death, particularly affecting children under five. The virus is typically transmitted through the fecal-oral route. In Germany, the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is used, which provides reliable protection against the disease. While IPV offers strong immunity, it provides less protection against the spread of wild poliovirus via the fecal-oral route compared to the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is not used in Germany for routine vaccination.

This WPV1 detection is distinct from previous reports of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) found in wastewater samples across several German cities since late 2024. Health officials continue to emphasize the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to protect communities from the reintroduction of the virus.