Residents may be concerned to hear the news that traces of the polio virus have been found during a routine sewage inspection in Beckton Sewage works as reported by national news outlets.
Newham Council is in close contact with the UK Health Security Agency who are the national agency responsible.
Myself and the Cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr Neil Wilson, are working closely with our Director of Public Health who has advised us that Newham residents should be reassured that the risk of infection is extremely low.
Polio is one of the diseases that we routinely vaccinate children against and there have been no cases in the UK for many years. We know that some children missed out on vaccinations during the Covid 19 pandemic and we urge all residents to contact their GP if they or their children have missed any essential vaccinations.
We will be working closely with colleagues in Newham’s NHS, as well as early years settings and schools to ensure all children are up to date with their vaccinations.
We will put further information on the councils website on the vaccinations children should have received and how to receive them.