Germany Restores Polio Funding After Virus Traces Found in Sewage

Germany has reversed its decision to cut funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative after traces of wild poliovirus were recently found in Hamburg’s wastewater.

During final budget discussions for 2026, the government added €4 million back into the programme, raising its total support to €23 million. Officials said the finding served as an important reminder that polio can still spread across borders and that global vaccination efforts remain essential.

Health authorities stressed that the risk to the German public is very low because vaccination coverage in the country is strong. Still, they noted that helping stop outbreaks abroad also protects people at home.

The discovery of the virus was Germany’s first in more than 30 years and the first detection of wild polio in Europe since 2010.

Germany also announced an increase in its support to the World Food Programme, adding €12 million to bring its contribution to €40 million next year.