POLIO HITS NIGERIA WITH 116 CASES RECORDED IN 29 STATES

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Poliomyelitis often called polio has made a very strong comeback to Nigeria following reported cases of 116 Acute Flacid Paralysis recorded in 29 states including Abuja.

“The term acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is often used to describe a sudden onset, as might be found with polio. AFP is the most common sign of acute polio, and used for surveillance during polio outbreaks”, says Wikipedia.

Polio is a highly contagious virus, transmited through contact with infected feces. Objects like toys that have come near infected feces can also transmit the virus, medical doctors have warned.

According to linic.org, polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.

In its weekly Epideomological report for the week of June 17, the Centre for Disease Control(CDC) said 116 polio cases of AFP were reported from 101 LGAs in 29 States & FCT, adding that Acute Flacid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance has been enhanced and that outbreak response is on-going in Borno and other high-risk States

It added that NIPDs is ongoing from 30th June to 3rd July 2018 using bOPV in 36 States plus FCT

“The 1st & 2nd Outbreak response (OBR) to cVDPV2 in Jigawa & Gombe States, Polio event in Sokoto (SLGAs) and mop-up response in 11 LGAs in Bauchi State conducted from 10th – 13th & 26th – 29th May 2018 using mOPV2 respectively

“Two SIPDs and one NIPDs were conducted from January to April 2018 using bOPV in 18 high-risk States and 36 States plus FCT respectively”, the CDC said.