Poliovirus Detected in Ghaziabad Sewage Sample, Health Authorities Launch Surveillance

Health authorities in Ghaziabad have launched a special surveillance and field survey across 12 urban primary health centre areas after a sewage sample collected from the Dundahera Sewage Treatment Plant tested positive for vaccine-derived poliovirus type-1 during routine monitoring. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sachin clarified that the detected virus is vaccine-derived and non-virulent, stressing that it does not pose a serious public health threat. He explained that the oral polio vaccine contains a live but weakened virus, which may occasionally be detected in environmental samples, and urged residents not to panic.

As a precaution, the health department has identified 12 affected and neighbouring localities for intensive surveillance covering nearly 1.25 lakh residents. More than 107 health teams have been deployed to conduct door-to-door screening of children below five years of age and monitor for any suspected cases, according to TOI report.

Officials said the situation is being closely tracked in coordination with the state and central governments as well as the World Health Organization (WHO). The surveillance exercise aims to strengthen early detection and ensure that routine immunisation coverage remains high to prevent any risk of poliovirus transmission.