The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency on
Thursday announced that Nigeria has officially reported 395 cases of the
Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 across 27 states and the Federal Capital
Territory.
This is as the agency added that the CMPV2 outbreaks were
caused by immunity gaps in children.
In August 2020, Nigeria was certified Wild poliovirus free
by the World Health Organization and allies following the fact that the country
reported its last case of the Wild poliovirus in 2016.
The NPHCDA in a statement signed by its executive director,
Faisal Shuaib further explained that the suspension of immunization programmes
due to the COVID-19 pandemic has further created new immunity gaps which have
led to new outbreaks.
The statement partly reads, “We currently have 395 cases of
Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (across 27 states and the FCT.
“Nigeria and the African region were certified Wild Polio
Virus (WPV) free in 2020, following a rigorous verification and certification
process by the African Regional Commission for the Certification of
Poliomyelitis Eradication which spanned three years of no detection of WPV. To
date, there has been no case of WPV anywhere in the country.
“cMPV2 outbreaks are caused by immunity gaps in children due
to several reasons, including low routine immunization coverage, and missing
children during immunization campaigns. The suspension of several polio
campaigns and other health programmes in 2020, as well as disruptions to
routine immunization because of the COVID-19 pandemic, created further immunity
gaps which led to new and wider outbreaks and further increased transmission of
the circulating mutant poliovirus both globally and within Nigeria.
“The viruses thrive
in areas with poor sanitation, open defecation, and inadequate access to clean
drinking water. These have allowed the virus to be easily transmitted from one
person to another through contaminated water and poor sewage disposal. Malnutrition
occasioned by increasing poverty is also a predisposing factor in exposed
children. These non-wild polioviruses which originated because of normal
changes in the reproduction of viruses in the environment are not as virulent
as WPV and are also being reported in many other countries.
The agency added that it is currently, “Working with our
Donors and Development Partners, Nigeria has already acquired new tools and
resources to ensure the outbreaks are contained through very robust outbreak
responses using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine which has been shown to be
effective in halting the spread of the cMPV2. All 36 States and FCT have
completed at least one nOPV2 Outbreak Response.
“Several other rounds of the OBR, as well as other campaigns
to improve the mucosal immunity of children aged 0-5 years old using Injectable
Polio Vaccine, have also been planned for this year. Efforts are also being
ramped up to increase routine immunization coverage beyond pre-COVID values.
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