Vaccine-derived polio continues to circulate in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Illustrative image · Asad Photo Maldives · Pexels · Licence PexelsVirologists are warning about the persistent circulation of vaccine-derived polioviruses among under-vaccinated children in Nigeria. They attribute the situation to low vaccination coverage, parental reluctance, insecurity and poor sanitation, according to Punch, as the WHO keeps this health threat under surveillance.
Nigeria continues to face the circulation of poliovirus derived from a vaccine strain, despite the interruption of transmission of the indigenous wild poliovirus. Virologists, including Professor Oyewale Tomori, a former regional virologist and coordinator for the WHO African region, attribute this circulation to shortcomings in routine vaccination and to the number of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children, Punch reports.
Niger State detected five polio cases in four local government areas, three in people and two through environmental sampling, according to the state's immunisation officer, Abubakar Kpantu. The experts also cite resistance from some parents, fake markings made by some vaccinators, insecurity and inadequate sanitation among the factors favouring circulation of the virus, Punch reports.
Nigeria had been declared free of wild poliovirus in August 2020 after the certification received by the WHO African region. The organisation nevertheless indicated in September that circulating variant polioviruses remained a public health threat, particularly in communities where too many children have not received the necessary vaccines, and called for surveillance to be maintained.
