Polio Virus Detected in Jerusalem and Central Israel
Israel's Health Ministry has issued an urgent warning after detecting the polio virus in sewage samples from Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Lod, Ramla, and the Shafdan facility, signaling community spread. Unvaccinated individuals, especially children, are urged to get immunized immediately.
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Israel's Ministry of Health issued a stark warning today after detecting the polio virus in environmental sewage samples across the Jerusalem district and several central regions, signaling potential community transmission and prompting calls for immediate vaccinations.
The virus was initially identified in Jerusalem-area samples, with subsequent tests confirming positive results in Bnei Brak, Ramla, Lod, and the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant. "These findings indicate transmission of the polio virus among the population in these areas," the ministry stated in a bulletin, urging unvaccinated individuals, particularly children, to seek immunization without delay.
Officials recalled a recent case where the virus caused paralysis in a 17-year-old boy in December 2024, emphasizing the risk of severe outcomes like permanent disability. Vaccinations are available free at family health centers (Tipat Halav) nationwide and student health services. Parents unsure of their child's status can check via the government's personal website or digital vaccination booklet.
In a directive sent to district physicians, health fund medical directors, and hospital administrators, the ministry outlined a multi-pronged response:
1. Vaccination Catch-Up: Prioritize completing immunizations and closing coverage gaps.
2. Enhanced Monitoring: Tighten clinical surveillance for early detection of acute flaccid paralysis cases, with mandatory immediate reporting to health bureaus.
3. Environmental Surveillance: Continue intensified sewage sampling as per established protocols to track spread.
Polio, a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis or death, was declared eradicated in Israel in 1988, but sporadic detections in unvaccinated communities have raised alarms. Health experts attribute the resurgence to declining vaccination rates in some areas, exacerbated by disruptions from ongoing conflicts. The ministry stressed that routine childhood vaccines provide lifelong protection, and booster shots may be recommended for at-risk groups.
This development comes amid global polio concerns, with the WHO reporting outbreaks in over 20 countries in 2025. Israelis traveling abroad are advised to verify their status. For more details, visit the Ministry of Health website or call *5400.