Poliovirus Detected in Northern Germany

German health authorities have confirmed the detection of two additional environmental samples positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Hamburg, a city in northern Germany.

The wastewater samples were collected from the same sewage site in October 2025.

As of January 21, 2026, this marks the first detection of WPV1 in Germany and the first such finding in Europe since 2010.

Significantly, no human cases of paralytic polio have been associated with these findings. Furthermore, there is no evidence of local community transmission or circulation of the virus within Germany.

Genetic analysis indicates that the isolates from these samples in Hamburg are closely linked, suggesting they originate from the same introduction of the WPV1 virus.

The virus strain found in these samples is genetically related to a WPV1 strain previously identified in an environmental sample from Kandahar, Afghanistan, in late August 2025.

The detections appear to be confined to wastewater, likely resulting from virus excretion by one or more individuals who were in the area around the time of sampling—possibly travelers or visitors from regions where WPV1 remains endemic, such as parts of Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Except for those countries, the WHO South-East Asia Region has maintained its polio-free status in 2026.

These detections in Germany were reported as part of the routine environmental surveillance in collaboration with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The GPEI stresses the need for continued efforts to achieve the complete eradication of poliovirus worldwide.

Currently, the U.S. government identifies 32 countries where poliovirus is a health risk, and advises international travelers to speak with a healthcare provider about immunization options, including a polio booster dose when visiting at-risk areas in 2026.