Confirmation of the presence of wild poliovirus in sewage water in Hamburg, Germany
Health authorities in Hamburg, Germany, confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a sewage sample, marking the first detection of this virus in the country in decades. The sample was collected on October 6, 2025, and analyzed as part of a national research initiative to monitor polioviruses in sewage. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirmed the discovery in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that the genetic sequence of the virus closely resembles the strain found in Afghanistan.
Germany has not recorded any cases of wild poliovirus since 1990, and previous imported cases were reported in 1992. Regular testing of sewage water for poliovirus has been conducted since May 2021, and so far, WPV1 has not been detected in the country. Although the virus has historically been confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan, it has been environmentally detected in Iran, Malawi, and Mozambique in recent years.
Officials confirmed that no clinical or suspected cases of polio have been reported in Germany following the discovery. Data indicates that at least one person in Hamburg has shed the virus in their stool at the time of sample collection. The Robert Koch Institute clarified that this discovery is different from the type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), which has been detected in several German cities since late 2024. Both types of viruses can cause illness in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, although full vaccination provides reliable protection against paralysis.
Polio is primarily transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or feces, and it can also be spread through respiratory droplets in the early stages of infection. Hamburg has a vaccination coverage higher than average, with 81% of children born in 2021 fully vaccinated against polio by the age of 24 months, and 91% of children born in 2017 fully vaccinated by the age of six. This covers the population and reduces the risk of widespread disease transmission.
The Robert Koch Institute considers the overall risk to the population to be very low due to the high vaccination rate and because the discovery was limited to a single sample of wastewater. However, travelers are advised to exercise caution. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has included Germany in its latest global travel warnings regarding polio, recommending that adults who have previously completed the polio vaccination series receive a lifetime booster dose for additional protection.