Poliovirus can mutate from fecal waste —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) warned that poliovirus can mutate from fecal waste if such wastes reach the water supply.

In a Wednesday report on 24 Oras by Chino Gaston, the DOH explained that the virus is naturally eliminated by the bodies of vaccinated children through fecal waste, posing a threat to children who are unvaccinated if the waste reaches the water supply.

“‘Yung mutation na ‘yun, after a few years is enough na pagbabago na nagiging sanhi na uli siya ng sakit,” DOH spokesperson Eric Domingo said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also said it is important to contain poliovirus carriers even though they are not ill.

“The shedding of the viruses is also a risk because those viruses could possibly mutate into ones which can cause disease so it’s necessary to find those and manage those patients,” WHO Country Representative to the Philippines Rabindra Abeyasinghe said.

Their statements came after 26 out of 142 environmental samples collected between July 1 and November 6 in Metro Manila and Davao City tested positive for poliovirus.

The WHO and DOH advised parents to vaccinate their children aged 5 and below.

They underscored that 95% of all children must be vaccinated in light of WHO data in 2018 that showed one in three Filipino children had incomplete polio vaccines.

A complete set of poliovirus vaccines is composed of three oral doses and one injected dose.

The WHO and DOH also reminded parents to ensure only clean, filtered water is used for washing the dishes and drinking. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News