The resurgence in Nigeria of Poliomyelitis, a severe infectious viral disease, usually affecting children or young adults, that inflames the brainstem and spinal cord, sometimes leading to loss of voluntary movement and muscular wasting, is bad news. But it is a distressing reality, marking a significant setback in the nation’s collective efforts against a disease […]
Health experts, however, said the cases of cVDPV2 do not threaten the country’s Wild Poliovirus-free certification. The Nigerian government has said cases of circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (cVDPV2) declined in the country between 2021 and 2022. The Chairman of the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio and Routine Immunisation, Akin Osibogun, while […]
On 17 March 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that health officials in Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had detected cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus. The WHO said the Burundian government had declared the detection of the virus a national public health emergency after three cases were confirmed. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade […]
Vaccination is crucial for preventing the spread of the polio, a highly contagious disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. But widespread, ongoing conflict in Somalia means that vaccination campaigns are hampered by restricted access to conflict zones, and the displacement of communities – making it difficult for healthcare workers to reach vulnerable populations. The […]