By John Efosa
National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, has announced, Thursday, that there are 395 new cases of Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2, CMPV2, across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
This is coming barely 16 months after the World Health Organisation, (WHO) certified Nigeria Wild Poliovirus free.
The NPHCDA has also traced the CMPV2 outbreaks saying, “it is caused by immunity gaps in children.”
In a press statement signed by the NPHCDA Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib traced the outbreak on the suspension of immunization programmes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that it further created new immunity gaps which have led to the new outbreaks.
“This 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,” the statement said.
It will be recalled that in August 2020 Nigeria was certified wild Poliovirus free by WHO and partners after the country reported its last case of the Wild Poliovirus in 2016.
