Nigeria Not At Risk Of New Coronavirus – Minister Of Health

Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has reassured Nigerians that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a novel virus, and urged the public to emphasize hygiene, particularly during the virus’s current season.

Salako underlined that HMPV has been recognized in Nigeria as a source of lower respiratory tract infections and severe acute respiratory difficulties, particularly in children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.

Speaking with The Nation, Salako confirmed that the Federal Government, through agencies such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Port Health Services, has increased surveillance efforts to prevent the virus from entering, particularly from regions where it is rapidly spreading.

“This is to ensure that the entry of the respiratory infection suspected to be caused by the HMPV being seen at a higher rate in some parts of China is prevented. Measures, including quarantine and collection of samples from people entering our country from China, have been put in place to detect any carrier of HMPV. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has significantly ramped up its ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks as validated by the last Joint External Evaluation conducted in 2023,” Salako stated.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in a report cited by The Washington Post on Tuesday, January 7, underlined that HMPV does not now constitute a public health hazard. The WHO clarified that the increased circulation of respiratory viruses, including HMPV, in China is consistent with normal winter patterns and does not need an emergency declaration.

HMPV, a common respiratory virus, has been spreading throughout Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, according to Scientific American. However, public health experts have stated that the reported increase is consistent with regular seasonal patterns and should not raise concern.

Similarly, The New York Times reported on Monday that the WHO has not expressed any major concerns. Dr. Margaret Harris, the organization’s spokeswoman, said in a statement that Chinese health officials’ reports revealed an expected seasonal increase in cases.

“As expected for this time of year, the Northern Hemisphere winter, there is a month-over-month increase of acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, R.S.V., and human metapneumovirus,” Dr Harris stated via email.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli