Wherever the wild polio virus still exists and/or mutating vaccine viruses circulate, there is a risk of infection and subsequent lifelong paralysis. Although poliomyelitis is also called infantile paralysis, adults are also at risk. For those unvaccinated, the risk of infection when traveling to certain countries is high. But even vaccinated individuals should check their vaccination status, as there is concern that immunity diminishes over time if not constantly exposed to the virus.
Although it is assumed that the polio virus circulates in Switzerland as in many other countries, it is still unlikely that the Swiss population is constantly exposed. Therefore, a booster vaccination is recommended when traveling to certain countries.
Also Australia affected
In 2024/25, polioviruses were detected in wastewater in Germany and four other European countries for the first time. This indicates that the virus circulates in these countries. In the summer of 2026, countries in which the polio virus was detected include nearly twenty African countries as well as Australia and Great Britain. Therefore, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) recommends a booster vaccination every ten years for all visitors to risk areas, even after basic immunization.
Further information on the specific recommendations for the countries:
1. www.healthytravel.ch 2. Polio Eradication Initiative Poliomyelitis Disease: Causes, Spread & Eradication Facts
No wastewater control in Switzerland
Only in Pakistan and Afghanistan are new polio cases recorded every year without interruption. Dozens of other countries repeatedly suffer relapses and thus new polio cases, especially African nations. Since environmental samples are analyzed for the polio virus there, as in many European countries, there is certainty about existing polio viruses. This is not yet the case in Switzerland.
The polio virus lives among us
The virus almost certainly circulates in Switzerland and can move from person to person. For vaccinated individuals, this is harmless, but not for unvaccinated people, especially young children, the immunocompromised, and the elderly. There are regions and cantons in Switzerland that are significantly under-vaccinated - regional polio outbreaks would be possible. We therefore recommend the vaccination.
Background information
The polio virus is highly contagious and leads to permanent paralysis and even death in about 0.5% of infections. In another 1.5%, it causes temporary paralysis and decades later, a large portion of the infected experience recurring or new- onset paralysis, pain, and other symptoms, even in people who never suffered paralysis and only had flu-like symptoms during the infection, known as post-polio syndrome.
Polio.ch is a specialist group of the Swiss Association of the Paralyzed ASPr-SVG, which has been under the same name since 1939.
87 years of ASPr-SVG and additionally since 1990 the Swiss Interest Group for Post-Polio Syndrome SIPS: The Swiss Association of the Paralyzed was founded in 1939 when infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) turned the lives of many children, parents, and siblings upside down within 24 hours. Hospital and rehabilitation stays lasting months to years, painful separation from family, and prolonged school absences, as well as thousands of deaths, were the consequences. ASPr-SVG
Polio.ch, together with the SIPS specialist group, is the contact point for people with polio and post-polio syndrome in Switzerland.
Links:
1. www.polio.ch 2. BAG - Updated Recommendations Poliomyelitis 3. BAG - Action Plan Poliomyelitis Switzerland 4. 25 Years of the Swiss Interest Group for Post-Polio Syndrome 5. www.aspr.ch 6. Commemorative Publication ASPr-SVG 75 Years
Press contact:
Christian Feldhausen Communication ASPr-SVG I Polio.ch christian.feldhausen@aspr.ch 026 322 94 35
Mario Corpataux General Secretary ASPr-SVG I Polio.ch mario.corpataux@aspr.ch 026 322 94 36
Central Secretariat
Route du Grand-Pré 3, 1700 Freiburg
info@polio.ch
026 322 94 35
www.polio.ch