Reinforcing polio surveillance and laboratory preparedness are vital pillars of health security. In the context of increasing environmental detections of polioviruses in the WHO European Region over the past year, WHO/Europe convened a consultation of the WHO Regional Reference Laboratories and Global Specialized Laboratories for polio on 12–13 August 2025 in London. The gathering brought together experts from across the Region to review current regional epidemiological and virological trends and outline strategies to sustain laboratory performance under anticipated resource constraints. Priority actions agreed during the meeting include sustaining high performance and timely data reporting, securing reagent supply chains and laboratory capacity beyond 2026 and strengthening inter-laboratory collaboration for rapid information exchange.
Polioviruses in the European Region
The European Region was declared polio free in 2002, but importations of the virus into the Region will continue to occur until global eradication is achieved. Polioviruses have been detected through routine wastewater surveillance in 6 countries of the Region in the past year. In July 2025 alone, 8 poliovirus-positive environmental samples were reported by Germany and 6 by Israel.
Suboptimal vaccination coverage in some areas or population groups in the Region create persistent pockets of vulnerability to the disease, making quick and reliable detection of the virus’s reappearance critical to allow for rapid initiation of measures to prevent or stop its spread.
Region-wide laboratory network
The WHO Regional Reference Laboratories and Global Specialized Laboratories for polio are part of the WHO European Regional Polio Laboratory Network coordinated by WHO/Europe and consisting of 47 laboratories in 37 countries. This network conducts testing of samples suspected of containing polioviruses in the European Region and sequencing of polioviruses to identify origins and chains of transmission. Network laboratories undergo annual WHO accreditation for quality assurance and play a critical role in enabling the Region to sustain its polio-free status.