Parents of under-5s are urged to make sure their children are up to date with their polio vaccinations. This follows the detection of poliovirus in wastewater in London.
Polio is a serious disease that mainly affects children under five. Most people who get infected with poliovirus do not have any symptoms, but in some cases it can be disabling and even life-threatening. Polio was once common in the UK and worldwide, but it is now very rare because it can be prevented by vaccination.
In recent months, the UK Health Security Agency has found poliovirus in sewage samples taken from London, and evidence suggests that the virus is spreading from person to person. For most children in Wales, who are fully vaccinated for their age, the risk is low. But children who are not up to date with their vaccinations could be at risk from a disease that can cause possible permanent paralysis and even death.