Type 2 polio hits 27 states, FCT with 395 cases No case of wild poliovirus in Nigeria – NPHCDA
Nigeria has recorded 395 cases of Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (cMPV2) across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) said on Thursday.
The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib disclosed this in a statement in response to media reports that there was an outbreak of a new poliovirus in some states.
However, he did not disclose the name of the affected states.
The NPHCDA boss said contrary to reports, no case of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) has been reported anywhere in the country since the last case in 2016.
The Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) had certified Nigeria and the African region free of wild poliovirus on August 25, 2020.
Wild poliovirus (WPV) is the most common form of poliovirus and there is another form of polio that can spread within communities called Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (cMPV2) which Nigeria is currently experiencing.
cMPV2 outbreaks are caused by immunity gaps in children due to several reasons, including low routine immunisation coverage, and missing children during immunisation campaigns.
Dr Shuaib said the suspension of several polio campaigns and other health programmes in 2020, as well as disruptions to routine immunisation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, created further immunity gaps which led to new and wider outbreaks.
He said it further increased transmission of the circulating mutant poliovirus both globally and within Nigeria.
According to him, the viruses thrive in areas with poor sanitation, open defecation, and inadequate access to clean drinking water.
Dr Shuaib said Nigeria in partnership with donors and development partners has already acquired new tools and resources to ensure the outbreaks are contained through robust outbreak responses using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) which has been shown to be effective in halting the spread of the cMPV2.
Recall that Nigeria had recorded an outbreak of Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in July last year.
cVDPV2, like the Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (cMPV2), is contracted through refusing to take the shots or not completing polio vaccines, among others.
Prof Sunday Omilabu, a virologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) said to avoid the spread of these kinds of polio, there is an urgent need to quickly reach out and immunise all children in the areas where the vaccine variant has been discovered.
Prof Akande, an epidemiologist, and former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, said the best protection against all types of polio remains to ensure all children are vaccinated in routine and supplementary immunisation campaigns and maintain strong disease surveillance.
Prof Tomori, another virologist said it is important to note that viruses, including poliovirus, mutate to varying degrees producing variants that could either end up innocuous and even lead to the extinction of the virus or become easier to transmit and or be more virulent causing more severe disease.