By Juliet Jacob Ochenje
The World Health Organization (WHO), on Sunday, announced that Nigeria has officially reported 13 cases of circulating variant poliovirus (cVPV2) across three states.
The agency who made this public in a report published on their website obtained by Africa Health Report, AHR, added that the cVPV2 outbreak had been as a result of immunity gaps in children.
According to the report, Zamfara State bears the burden of over 50% of circulating variant polio virus reported in Nigeria, adding that traditional leaders are showing deep commitment to the successful implementation of the campaign.
To this end, the WHO said to forestall transmission of cVPV2, specifically in northern states of the country, the agency has in collaboration with UNICEF and other supporting partners flagged off a campaign to ensure all eligible children in
Zamfara state and other northern Nigeria states are protected against poliovirus.
“To stop transmission of cVPV and to pioneer the use of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) & Fractional doses of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV), in 4 states, targeting over 7.2 million children in next 1 week.”
