Adamawa State Government has confirmed the reemergence and detection of a case of Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 in the state.
Prof. 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. Isa described Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 ( VDPV) as a strain of the weakened Poliovirus that was initially included in Oral Polio Vaccine ( OPV) that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus.
He expressed concern that the current resurface of the virus in the state was a great challenge and danger for possible outbreak of the transmitted virus.
“The resurface of the Poliovirus type 2 necessitated the immediate flag off of the first Round Outbreak Response for Oral Polio Vaccine.” He added that the state government with the support from the developmental partners, W.H.O and UNICEF, among others, had trained about 800 health personnel to carry out the routine immunisation for polio vaccination.
Mr Iyobosa Igbinovia, the W.H.O state Coordinator, recalled that Nigeria was in August 2020 declared free and safe country from polio virus. Igbinovia however said that the resurface 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,” Igbinovia said.
On his part, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa, the District Head of Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, where the case was detected, assured the the health workers full support directing all Ward Heads to ensure people comply and present their children to receive Oral Polio Vaccine.
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