Polio may feel like a relic of the past, but its recent reappearance in London’s sewage is a stark reminder that infectious diseases do not respect borders, and that our health security must not be taken for granted. What happens thousands of miles away can, and does, shape the risks we face at home. Polio is not a disease of the past but – for now – a stubbornly persisting global health threat.
By its nature, Polio spreads easily across national borders. It travels quietly, often undetected, through communities and across continents. A lapse in vaccination coverage, a delay in surveillance, or a disruption to health systems can allow the virus to regain a foothold, and from there, it can spread with alarming speed, particularly in under-immunised communities. This makes polio not just a local or national issue, but an international one requiring sustained global coordination and solidarity.
