Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://novanews.co.za/polio-virus-strains-found-in-cape-town-wastewater-tests/
Poliovirus strains found in Cape Town wastewater tests
NovaNews
22 May 2026
Detection of two different polio virus strains in wastewater samples from Cape Town has prompted a public health response, but the national Department of Health says there is no need for panic as no human cases have been identified.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) informed the department that the strains, identified as VDPV3 and nOPV2-L, were detected during routine environmental and wastewater surveillance in the Western Cape.
The department said in a statement, the testing forms part of proactive disease monitoring aimed at detecting emerging outbreaks and viral variants before clinical cases appear.
Officials stressed that the detections are classified as “vaccine events” because the viruses were not found in any person.
“No outbreak has been declared and no additional vaccination campaign is required,” read the statement...
Poliovirus strains found in Cape Town wastewater tests
NovaNews
22 May 2026
Detection of two different polio virus strains in wastewater samples from Cape Town has prompted a public health response, but the national Department of Health says there is no need for panic as no human cases have been identified.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) informed the department that the strains, identified as VDPV3 and nOPV2-L, were detected during routine environmental and wastewater surveillance in the Western Cape.
The department said in a statement, the testing forms part of proactive disease monitoring aimed at detecting emerging outbreaks and viral variants before clinical cases appear.
Officials stressed that the detections are classified as “vaccine events” because the viruses were not found in any person.
“No outbreak has been declared and no additional vaccination campaign is required,” read the statement...