Emergence of genetically linked vaccine-originated poliovirus type 2 in the absence of oral polio vaccine, Jerusalem, April to July 2022
Neta S. Zuckerman, Itay Bar-Or, Danit Sofer, Efrat Bucris, Hagar Morad, Lester M. Shulman, Nofar Levi, Leah Weiss, Irina Aguvaev, Zvi R. Cohen, Klil Kestin, Rinat Vasserman, Michal Elul, Ilana S. Fratty, Miranda Geva, Marina Wax, Oran Erster, Ruth Yishai, Lior Hecht-Sagie, Sharon Alroy‐Preis, Ella Mendelson, Merav Weil
Abstract
We report an emergence and increase in poliovirus type 2 detection via routine wastewater surveillance in three non-overlapping regions in the Jerusalem region, Israel, between April and July 2022. Sequencing showed genetic linkage among isolates and accumulation of mutations over time, with two isolates defined as vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPV). This demonstrates the emergence and potential circulation of type 2 VDPV in a high-income country with high vaccine coverage and underscores the importance of routine wastewater surveillance during the polio eradication.