- Nigeria to enhance surveillance for passengers arriving from China, including quarantine measures, to reduce virus spread around the world
- Countries neighbouring China also monitoring the situation, but no significant outbreaks have been reported outside of China
- Increased preparedness and continuous surveillance recommended by experts to prevent the virus from reaching Nigeria
The Federal Government has announced it will implement enhanced surveillance for passengers arriving from China following a surge in respiratory virus cases.
Dr John Oladejo, Director of Special Duties at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), confirmed on Sunday, January 5, that the government is set to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to Nigeria.
Reports indicate surge in HMPV cases in China, hospitals overwhelmed
“The FG will activate surveillance measures, like quarantine, for passengers coming in from China,” Dr Oladejo stated.
Reports from China indicated that the virus, believed to be caused by the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), has led to overcrowded hospitals and a rising public health concern, particularly in northern regions where cases have spiked, especially among children.
Countries neighbouring China, including Cambodia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, are also closely monitoring the situation. While they have reported some cases, there have been no significant outbreaks so far.
Experts in the field supported the government’s decision to implement the surveillance. Dr Moses Adewumi, a virologist at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, explained the importance of continuous monitoring to prevent the virus from reaching Nigeria.
Virologist warns virus variants may be circulating, urges heightened measures
“On good day, surveillance should always be part of us. What happens most times is that despite the amount that was voted for COVID-19, we seem to have relaxed. Our people are more interested in spending the money, and after that, we probably decide to go to sleep. So, the surveillance should be a continuous thing.
“It is good that we increase our surveillance for people coming into the country, especially from China, Japan and other places, where we have the outbreaks. The government should be more involved in surveillance because most of the surveillance and all the research we do is funded by foreign bodies, so our own government should be more interested in research, in surveillance for all these viruses.
“The virus is not new but the surge may be because there is a different variant, and that is why we need to increase our surveillance and monitor it closely to curtail its introduction into the country. Experience has taught us that if we check now, we may have our people with antibodies already, and that’s a confirmation that it’s likely that this is circulating here, maybe not the exact variants that they have now,” Adewuni stated.
Expert emphasises importance of preparedness, measures to curb virus transmission
Dr. Oladipo Kolawole, an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at Adeleke University in Osun State, agreed, praising the move as a necessary step to safeguard public health while the situation develops.
“The government is likely to enhance screening processes at points of entry and provide guidelines for travellers from China, this is to mitigate risks associated with HMPV. Activating surveillance allows for the early detection of cases, which is essential in managing outbreaks effectively. Monitoring travellers from regions experiencing outbreaks can help identify and isolate cases before they spread within the community.
“Also, quarantine for inbound passengers from the affected regions can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. It serves as a precautionary measure to ensure that individuals who may be infected do not unknowingly spread the virus to others. Finally, this situation underscores the importance of preparedness in public health systems,” Dr Kolawole stated.
Nigeria reports 12,085 suspected diphtheria cases with 309 deaths in September
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nigeria recorded 12,085 suspected diphtheria cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
An epidemiology report showed 36,151 suspected cases and 1,103 deaths from diphtheria from 2022 to 2024.