Nigeria Records 83 New Cases of Variant Polio Virus in 2024 – NPHCDA

As Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate World Polio Day 2024, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) revealed that the country recorded 83 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) across 14 states.

Speaking at a press briefing themed “A Chance for Reflection and a Reminder to Reach Every Child,” NPHCDA’s Executive Director, Dr. Muyi Aina, noted that 64 of the 83 cases were identified through Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, while 19 were detected in Environmental Sites (ES).

Despite the figures, Dr. Aina highlighted progress, pointing out a 35% reduction in cases compared to the same period in 2023. However, he acknowledged that more efforts are still needed to stop the transmission of cVPV2.

While Nigeria successfully eradicated the wild poliovirus (WPV) and has remained WPV-free since 2020, cVPV2—an altered form of the virus—continues to pose a challenge.

To close the immunisation gap, the NPHCDA has launched the Identify, Enumerate, and Vaccinate (IEV) strategy in 109 high-risk wards. This strategy uses digital tools for microplanning and tracking missed children.

“We have digitally enumerated 907,329 children under five, and successfully tracked and vaccinated 793,075 of them,”
— Dr. Aina

So far, the agency has reached 67% of previously unreached children in the affected states.