The Robert Koch Institute has announced the detection of wild poliovirus in wastewater in Germany, with no reported infections in humans.

This is the first detection of the wild virus in the country since 1990 and the first in environmental samples since 2021. Although no human infections have been reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that no country is immune to polio, although the threat in Germany is low due to the high vaccination rate. Polio, a viral infection that can cause paralysis or death, is preventable through vaccination. The detection of the virus in Germany is an example of the effectiveness of the surveillance network, demonstrating the importance of continuous monitoring.