By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
Bauchi state government has debunked media reports about outbreak of polio in the state.
The Executive Chairman Bauchi State primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed denied the reports on Monday.
According to him, the media misrepresented his speech at the flag-off of the first round of the statewide outbreak response vaccination last Saturday.
“As part of the post-free certification activities, the World Health Organisation directed every country to intensify surveillance, strengthen routine immunization for children and continuous public health education.
“Through this surveillance, the state was able to collect 315 samples from January to December 2021, out of which 38 recorded cases of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus was found,” Mohammed explained.
He said that the circulating vaccine-derived polio virus referred to as circulating mutant polio virus, normally results from mutation of the attenuated polio viruses used in manufacturing the polio vaccines.
“Bauchi state has remained polio-free since 2013 and all measures to prevent recurrence of the virus as recommended by WHO, are rigorously followed in the state,” he said.
The agency, he added, will administer the oral polio vaccine on 2,286,057 children under 5 years of age.
“Though Nigeria was certified polio-free in August 2020 by WHO, the presence of the circulating mutant polio virus, which is derived from the environment, there has been no strengthened routine immunization.
“The state has received 2,367,450 vaccine that will be administered by 4,023 house-to-house teams, 1,280 special teams in 17,243 settlements.”
He called on households to keep their environments clean to prevent the spread and other circulating diseases.
