The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has warned that all Nigerian Children aged 0-59 months are at immediate risk of contracting the polio virus following the recent outbreak of the Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus in Nigeria.
This is as Lagos, Kebbi, Federal Capital Territory, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger , Ekiti and Kwara states reported 68 cases of the CVDPV2 within one week.
Nigeria in August 2020, was certified wild polio virus free by the World Health Organization Independent Africa Regional Certification Commission for polio eradication.
Nigeria was the last polio-endemic country in Africa and was officially certified free from polio after marking three consecutive years since the last case had been identified.
While Nigeria is wild polio free, the NPHCDA said, “Another type of poliovirus called Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus is still causing polio outbreaks in Nigeria”.
The agency noted that in 2019, only 18 cases of the CVDPV were reported, the agency also stated that in 2020, only 8 cases were reported.
The agency further explained that, “cVDPV occurs when a weakened strain of the poliovirus contained in the oral polio vaccine circulates among the under-immunised population for a long time. cVDPV outbreaks are stopped using the same tactics that enabled progress against WPV polio, ensuring every child is given oral polio vaccine in high-quality immunisation campaigns.
“nOPV2 is an improved oral polio vaccine which, based on the current oral polio vaccine, has been proven effective and safe in eradicating wild polio virus from Nigeria.”