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hatrack

(59,386 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:00 AM Jun 2014

World Cup Update - Polio Virus Discovered In Brazilian Sewage In Host City Of Campinas

Brazilian health officers have discovered the polio virus in sewage in the World Cup host city of Campinas, the World Health Organization announced Monday.

Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was discovered during a routine health check at the city's Viracopos International Airport and reported to the WHO on June 18, officials said. To date there has been no evidence of transmission, nor has there been a case of paralytic polio reported.

"The World Health Organization assesses the risk of further international spread of this virus from Brazil is very low," the announcement said. Campinas has been serving as base camp for the Portuguese and Nigerian teams during the World Cup soccer tournament. It's roughly 60 miles from Brazil's most populous city, Sao Paulo.

WHO officials said the polio vaccination rate in the city and the state of Sao Paolo has been greater than 95%, and was one of the reasons they assessed that the health risk was low. The virus was found only in airport sewage.

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-poliovirus-brazil-20140623-story.html

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