The polio virus was found in the sewer on the grounds of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), a vaccine company and a research laboratory in Bilthoven, the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) told NU.nl on Wednesday after reporting from de Volkskrant.
The RIVM regularly checks the sewage water for polio and other viruses. Researchers found the virus in a sample taken on July 21 in the first week of August.
There are three institutions on the site that work with the polio virus: Bilthoven Biologicals, one of the largest polio vaccine producers in the world, the research institute Intravacc and the RIVM, which has a polio laboratory there. Both waste and toilet water from the three companies ends up in the sewers.
Polio is an incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis, especially in children under the age of five. Thanks to a strict vaccination policy, the disease no longer occurs in the Western world. For the polio vaccine, which is taken orally, a weakened form of the virus is used.
Sewage water does not pose a threat to public health
The IGJ is leading the investigation into the case and says the source of the virus is still unclear. It is also not certain whether employees have been exposed to the virus. All employees are currently being screened for the virus. In addition, laboratories are screened for technical problems. No problems or infected persons have been found so far.
Genetic research is currently also being done on the virus to determine its origin. The IGJ expects to complete the investigation within two to three weeks, a spokesperson told NU.nl.
In sewage water, the polio virus does not pose a danger to public health because the sewer is a closed system. Viral particles are eliminated during water purification.
“Fortunately, it is a rare event, but it is important to handle this carefully. We certainly do,” said the IGJ spokesperson.
WHO has been notified
If the investigation shows that an employee has become infected, this could ultimately be risky for people who have not been vaccinated. In the Netherlands, the vaccination coverage is very high, although there are some exceptions, such as with religious communities in the Bible Belt.
Three years ago, an employee of Bilthoven Biologicals was last infected with the virus due to a technical error, writes de Volkskrant. The man did not become ill because he was vaccinated, but was placed in a very strict quarantine.
Since then, the guidelines have been tightened and a national authority has been established to contain the polio virus, according to the morning paper. After the discovery at the beginning of August, according to the protocol, the RIVM informed the health organization WHO, as a result of which other countries have been informed of the discovery.
Which vaccine companies are there on the RIVM site?
- Bilthoven Biologicals is the former production branch of the Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI), an agency that emerged from the RIVM. State-owned NVI was once a world-leading research and production center for vaccines. In 2012, due to cutbacks, the government sold the NVI for 32 million euros to the Serum Institute of India, which renamed it Bilthoven Biologicals. About 400 people work there.
- Intravacc is an important link between science and vaccine production. Intravacc was the research division of the NVI. After a short period at the RIVM, it continued as an independent company under the Ministry of Health. The company with 140 employees is mainly involved in the first phases of vaccine development.
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