An alert has been issued in Victoria following the detection of an unusual virus trend in the region’s water supply.
The State Department of Health confirmed the finding during a routine sewage sampling test conducted in Melbourne.
The virus identified is polio virus type 2 (VDPV2), which is not the primary polio pathogen.
Health authorities assure that the presence of the virus in sewage does not pose a risk to Melbourne residents due to effective sewage treatment.
However, unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk of infection if exposed to the virus found in the wastewater.
Health Victoria emphasized that polio vaccination coverage in Victoria is high, and Australia remains polio-free.
Vaccination is considered the best protection against polio, with 95% of five-year-old children in Victoria being immunized.
Children and adults who are not fully vaccinated are advised to complete their polio immunizations to reduce any potential risk.
