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The Belgian authorities reported to the Europen Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that on 2 September 2014, 45 litres of concentrated live poliovirus solution was accidentally released by the pharmaceutical company into a water treatment facility in Rosiéres in the southern region of Walloon. Following treatment, the liquid was released into the river Lasne, a tributary of the river Dyle, which flows into the river Escaut/Scheldt.
An investigation by the Council of Public Health concluded that the risk of infection for the population exposed to the contaminated water is extremely low due to the high level of dilution and the high vaccination coverage (95%) in Belgium. Those working at the water-treatment facility were considered to be at increased risk and received polio vaccination as a precaution.
The risk assessment also concluded that beyond the junction of river Lasne with the river Dyle, the dilution of the virus in the river water reduced the risk to negligible. As a precaution, a booster dose of polio vaccine is recommended to those who have had contact with the water of river Lasne from 2 September until further notice.
However, ECDC's assessment is that this incident represents a risk to public health if susceptible populations, e.g. areas with low polio vaccine coverage, are exposed to contaminated waters or mud. Especially as the Lasne and Dyle rivers join the Escaut/Scheldt river which flows in the southwestern part of the Netherlands where various orthodox protestant communities have lower polio vaccination coverage.
(Via ECDC - Communicable Disease Threats Report Week 37, 7-13 September 2014 - accessed 17/09/14)
All travellers should ensure that they have completed the recommended schedule of vaccines for the UK programme, which includes 5 doses of polio vaccine.
Athough the risk is extremely low, travellers who may have been exposed to the water of river Lasne due to fishing, swimming etc, since 2 September 2014, should contact their healthcare provider to discuss the need for further vaccination against poliomyelitis.
