Ayear after Nigeria was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus has resurfaced in Adamawa, according to the state government.
Abdullahi Isa, the state commissioner for health and human services, disclosed this during the official flag off of first Round Outbreak Response immunisation on Saturday in Yola, expressing concern that the current resurgence of the virus in the state was a great challenge and danger for possible outbreak of the transmitted virus.
“One case of Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 has been detected in the state. The situation is posing a great danger of polio virus outbreak in the state.
“The resurface of the Poliovirus type 2 necessitated the immediate flag off of the first Round Outbreak Response for Oral Polio Vaccine,” Mr Isa said.
He said the state government with the support from the developmental partners, WHO and UNICEF, among others, had trained about 800 health personnel to carry out the routine immunisation for polio vaccination. About one million children below the age of five years were targeted in the outbreak response vaccination across the state.
Iyobosa Igbinovia, the WHO state coordinator, said the resurgence of the Polio virus was a threat to healthcare services not only in Adamawa but for the North East in general.
“WHO is working hand in hand with the state government to ensure total eradication of the virus and to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated against Polio,” Mr Igbinovia said.
