UPDATED report 9-26-14: The Netherlands issue shellfish warning following Belgium polio incident
On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, following a human error, 45 litres of concentrated live polio virus solution were released into the environment by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Rixensart, Belgium. The water from the treatment plant in question is not discharged to the supply network for drinking water, according to a press release (computer translated).
Belgian health authorities, at the request of the Minister of Public Health, took immediate measures when notified of the situation. The Scientific Institute of Public Health and the Supreme Council of Health conducted a risk analysis and confirm there is no public health risk for the general population.
The risk assessment concludes that dilution of the virus from the junction of the Lasne with the Dyle reduces the risk to negligible. As a precaution, a booster dose of polio vaccine was recommended for persons who had contact with the Lasne river water from 2 September until precautionary measures are lifted.
Samples of mud and water from the treatment plant and from the Rosieres, Lasne and Dyle areas were taken on Saturday, Sept. 6 to evaluate virus persistence. Testing of these samples was negative: no presence of poliovirus was detected, according to the Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment in Belgium (computer translated).
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