Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has urged for enhanced diagnostic and treatment measures to combat the growing threat of emerging and re-emerging diseases in the country.
Director of Research at NIMR, Professor Rosemary Audu emphasized the need for improved diagnostic capacity, particularly in detecting viral infections like Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs).
“Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly VHFs are common in Nigeria… Health workers should have a high index of suspicion as there are many other things that can cause illnesses that anti-malaria drugs cannot address,” Audu stated.
Audu’s team conducted research on VHFs between 2018 and 2022, revealing active infections of diseases like Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever, Zika virus, and Chikungunya in some parts of the country.
She highlighted the importance of improving surveillance at entry points to detect travellers with these fevers, which can pose a significant threat to the country. Audu also noted that not many labs in Nigeria have access to PCR laboratory equipment, which is essential for testing and research on VHFs.
The NIMR team plans to expand its VHFs surveillance by conducting research on viral diseases in other parts of the country. However, Audu cited inadequate and irregular funding as significant challenges affecting their research work.
Despite these challenges, the NIMR remains committed to addressing the growing threat of emerging and re-emerging diseases in Nigeria.
