A polio vaccine booster campaign is being launched in London targeting young children as the disease threatens to make a comeback.
British health officials confirmed on Wednesday that the virus is spreading in the capital for the first time since the 1980s.
Polio, which was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003, can cause paralysis in rare cases and can be life-threatening.
The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) identified 116 polioviruses from 19 sewage samples this year in London, after first sending out an alert in June about finding the virus.
The levels of poliovirus found and genetic diversity indicated transmission was taking place in several London boroughs, the agency said.
No cases have yet been identified, but the vaccine booster campaign is being launched in an attempt to get ahead of a potential outbreak.
"No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low," said UK HSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba.
"But we know the areas in London where the poliovirus is being transmitted have some of the lowest vaccination rates.
"This is why the virus is spreading in these communities and puts those residents not fully vaccinated at greater risk.
"Polio is a serious infection that can cause paralysis but nationally the overall risk is considered low because most people are protected by vaccination," Dr Saliba said.
"The last case of polio in the UK was in 1984, but decades ago before we introduced the polio vaccination programme about 8,000 people would develop paralysis every year.
"It is vital parents ensure their children are fully vaccinated for their age."
'Silent transmission' of polio
Almost one million children aged one to nine across London will be offered a polio vaccine.
Health officials said there has been “some transmission” of the virus in the capital after detecting poliovirus in sewage samples.
The poliovirus was first detected earlier this year at Beckton sewage treatment works in east London.
Officials said levels of the virus found in sewage suggests "some virus transmission" in boroughs including Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
GPs will invite children for the booster vaccines alongside a wider catch-up campaign already announced.
Immunisation rates across London vary, but are on average below the 95 per cent coverage rate the World Health Organisation suggests is needed to keep polio under control.
Youngsters can be responsible for “silent transmission” of polio, which means that they may have the virus but not show any symptoms.
Children will be offered a catch-up vaccine or booster jab within the next four weeks with officials hoping to vaccinate all those invited within six weeks.
Officials hope the campaign will boost antibodies and interrupt transmission of the virus.
The programme will start in the areas where the virus has been detected in sewage and then be extended across all London boroughs.
The virus has not yet been found outside London but officials are stepping up surveillance in the rest of the country.
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
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2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
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2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
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The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
