Nigeria: Stop New Polio Infections Now

editorial

There are growing health concerns in the country over the recent outbreak of circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, announced on Monday, July 5, that the country is witnessing a cVDPV2 outbreak in Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, FCT, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states. Of great concern is the fact that some of the states where cVDPV2 is found were not among those that had the previous Wild Polio Virus (WPV). Dr Shuaib, thus alerted on the need for the country to jealously guard its WPV-free status and stop the cVDPV2 transmission in communities.

According to Dr Shuaib, the agency had conducted four Outbreak Responses (OBRs) using the Novelle Oral Polio Vaccine; adding that "sub-optimal performance has been recorded in all the states due to the high number of missed children during the exercise."

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