Vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) type-1 was detected in sewage samples from Dundahera Water Treatment Plant, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. After India was declared polio-free, the presence of the virus in areas near the capital Delhi has alerted the administration. The district health department immediately launched an emergency door-to-door survey campaign to check the health of nearly 150,000 children under the age of five in 12 sensitive areas.
According to the health department, water samples are collected every month from urban and rural water treatment plants and sent to Delhi for testing with the goal of a polio-free India. State health officials and the administration held an emergency meeting through Zoom media on Monday after test results in Dundahera project water confirmed the presence of the virus. After a two-hour meeting, 107 special medical teams were formed to identify the source of the virus and diagnose polio symptoms in children. These teams have already checked the health of more than 5 thousand children on the first day.
The survey covers 12 sensitive areas such as Raj Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area, Daulatpura, New Panchavati Colony, Jhukna, Hindon Vihar, Kaila Bhatta, Mirzapur, Vijay Nagar-I, Vijay Nagar-II and Khairati Nagar. The entire process is being closely monitored by state level officials as well as World Health Organization (WHO) experts. Officials suspect that poor routine immunization and faulty polio campaigns may have contributed to the spread of the virus. It is believed that the virus can be introduced into sewage through the feces of unvaccinated or immunocompromised children or travelers.
Dr. Sachin Chandra Baishya, Chief Medical Officer, Ghaziabad, said vaccine-derived polio virus type-1 was found in sewage samples from Dundahera STP and door-to-door surveys have been initiated in 12 areas surrounding the project to identify children as young as five years old. District Monitoring Officer Dr RK Gupta said the presence of polio virus in the area is certainly a matter of concern. The health department has taken the matter very seriously and started quick action to avert any danger. Officials are testing each child to try to find the source of the virus, he said.
Currently, health department teams are collecting data on completion of routine immunization of children in designated areas and arranging for polio vaccination as needed. Authorities said every child under five in all sensitive areas will be tested and the survey will continue until the source of the virus is identified.