Germany has detected the wild polio virus in a sewage sample in Hamburg—the first such finding in Europe in 14 years, according to health officials. The virus was identified during routine environmental surveillance, a tool widely used across countries to track the presence and movement of polioviruses.
Experts said the detection indicates that Germany’s monitoring system is functioning effectively. Authorities also stressed that there have been no reported infections in the country and that the overall risk to the public remains low due to high vaccination coverage.
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that wild polio has not been detected in Europe since 2010, though absence of detection does not necessarily mean absence of the virus. Other regions declared free of wild polio have faced similar instances. In 2022, Malawi and Mozambique reported outbreaks linked to a strain circulating in Pakistan, despite being polio-free for years.
While wild polio detections are rare, vaccine-derived poliovirus has been found more frequently in recent years in multiple regions, including parts of Europe and the United States.
Health experts said the detection in Germany reinforces a long-standing message: polio anywhere remains a threat everywhere. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) urged the international community to intensify efforts to eliminate the disease once and for all.
