The Epinhood (TEH)

POLIOMYELITIS – AFRICA : NIGERIA (ZAMFARA) CVPV2

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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sun 14 May 2023
Source: The Sun [edited] https://sunnewsonline.com/13-polio-cases-reported-in-zamfara-2-other-states-in-2023-says-who/

The Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed
on [Sun 14 May 2023], that 13 cases of circulating Variant Poliovirus
(cVPV2) have been reported in 3 states in 2023.

WHO Nigeria, in a statement posted on its Twitter page, confirmed that
Zamfara State accounted for over 50% of the circulating variant
poliovirus cases reported in Nigeria, while 2 other unnamed states
accounted for the balance.

In the statement, WHO further indicated that the Country Office of the
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and GAVI, have designed a
support system for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency
(NPHCDA) to pioneer the use of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2)
and fractional doses of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV), in
4 states, targeting over 7.2 million children in the next one week
[w/e 21 May 2023].

WHO was, however, optimistic that administering the suggested vaccine,
in addition to other measures, would help to stop the mass
transmission of the polio virus in the affected states.

It added that relevant agencies in Nigeria are taking adequate
measures to ensure that all eligible children in Zamfara state and
other northern Nigeria states are protected against the
fast-circulating poliovirus.

It also confirmed that traditional rulers in the affected communities
have been engaged to champion the immunization campaign and other
sensitization endeavours against the spread of the polio virus. It
said: “The Emir of Bungudu, Hassan Attahiru, recently flagged off the
campaign of vaccination and also led the supervisory team from NPHCDA,
Zamfara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (ZSPHDA), WHO
Nigeria, UNICEF Nigeria, and USCDC Nigeria, on a monitoring exercise
to 3 wards, including security compromised areas.”

[Byline: Fred Ezeh]