Poliovirus has been detected in Perth wastewater, health officials have confirmed.
The national polio surveillance program detected the virus in a sample taken from a wastewater catchment in the Western Australian capital in mid-April.
Despite the detection of the virus, which was eradicated in Australia 26 years ago, WA’s Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Huppatz said the single detection was of very low risk to the population.
The surveillance system monitors wastewater and serves to provide an early warning on presence of the poliovirus in Australia.
The detection demonstrated evidence of a vaccine derived poliovirus Type 2 strain, similar to what has been detected in wastewater in some other countries in recent years, including in parts of Africa, Europe and in Papua New Guinea.
The presence of the virus in wastewater in Europe during 2024 and 2025 did not lead to anyone developing the disease.
Dr Clare Huppatz said the potential for this strain to circulate in a highly vaccinated population was “very low”.
“While this is a significant finding, this detection does not provide evidence of spread of the disease in WA.”
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She said the finding was most likely from someone who had travelled overseas and was shedding that virus strain.
President-elect of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) Professor Christopher Blyth, who is also an infectious diseases physician in Perth, said that many overseas countries used the oral polio vaccine, which contains a small amount of live, but weakened virus.
“Rarely, the virus in the oral polio vaccine can evolve to create a vaccine-derived strain, which can be transmitted in communities with low vaccination coverage,” he said.
Australia uses inactivated polio vaccines, which do not contain live virus and are given by injection.
Professor of International Health Jaya Dantas at the School of Population Health at Curtin University said polio continued to be of concern in Pakistan and Afghanistan where it was endemic.
“Since the pandemic and ongoing conflicts globally, we have seen a resurgence of polio, cholera, and measles in many parts of the world,” she said.
“This is partly due to reduction in vaccination rates due to the pandemic, impacts on supply chains, vaccine hesitancy and most importantly misinformation.”
WA’s poliovirus vaccination coverage in children is 92%.
Prof Dantas said there needed to be community education and review of vaccination rates in under-fives, especially for travellers from countries at risk.
“Whilst we have a great health system in WA and with the Australian CDC commencing and setting up its advisory council – we need to remain vigilant and ensure that our messaging about vaccination and its long-term benefits is consistent, strong and ongoing and be supportive of those most at risk,” she said.
“We can urge those travelling to certain regions to get a booster where needed.”
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