Bauchi Primary Health Care explains 38 cases of polio detect
Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) has explained that the state has detected 38 cases of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses out of the 315 samples collected from January to December 2021 in 12 out of the 20 local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of the Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, gave the clarification on Monday when he interacted with journalists in Bauchi.
He said “The circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses which are presently referred to as the circulating Mutant Polio viruses (cMPV), normally results from a mutation (change of form/characteristics) of the attenuated Polio viruses used in the manufacturing of the polio vaccines, these are not Wild Polio Viruses (WPV) that causes paralyses but are used as indicators to measure the quality of immunization services and disease surveillance.
“Bauchi State like other states of the federation remains free from WPV. The last case of it detected in the state was in 2013. All measures to prevent the recurrence of the virus as recommended by WHO is religiously followed in the state.”
Rilwanu further stated that “as part of the polio-free certification activities, the World Health Organization directed every country to intensify surveillance activities, strengthen routine immunization for children and continue public health education.
“The surveillance activities require the collection of samples from children with cases of Acute Flaccid Paralyses (AFP) from the environment at some designated sites.”
He clarified that the reported story on the emergence of polio was a misrepresentation of speech by the Executive Chairman of the Agency.
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