New Coronavirus: FG Addresses Nigeria’s Risk
*By Our Correspondent*
The federal government has reassured the public of its preparedness to handle any potential outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country.
The government emphasized that necessary precautionary measures are in place, with ongoing improvements to health infrastructure.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, urged Nigerians not to panic, highlighting that the virus is not novel. He encouraged the public to prioritize hygiene, particularly as the season associated with the virus arrives.
This statement follows a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), cited by a foreign newspaper on Tuesday, which indicated that HMPV does not currently pose a significant threat to public health.
Salako noted that HMPV has been recognized in Nigeria as a cause of lower respiratory tract infections and severe acute respiratory infections, particularly among children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
In an interview with *The Nation* on Monday, Salako assured that the Federal Government, through the relevant agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, especially the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services, has intensified its surveillance activities.
He stated, “This is to ensure that the entry of the respiratory infection suspected to be caused by HMPV, which is being observed at a higher rate in some parts of China, is prevented. Measures, including quarantine and sample collection from travelers entering our country from China, have been implemented to detect any carriers of HMPV.”
Salako noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has significantly enhanced its capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, as validated by the recent Joint External Evaluation conducted in 2023.
However, *The Washington Post*, citing Anadolu Agency and EFE, reported that the WHO clarified on Tuesday that the rising circulation of respiratory viruses, including HMPV, in China aligns with typical winter patterns, and there are currently no emergency declarations regarding this matter.
HMPV is a common respiratory virus that has been spreading in several Asian countries, including China, India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, according to *Scientific American*.
An uptick of this routine virus in China has sparked alarmist headlines and social media posts, but public health experts warn that the current cases of human metapneumovirus are part of the normal seasonal fluctuations of respiratory viruses and do not warrant alarm.
Similarly, *The New York Times* reported on Monday that the WHO has not expressed concern, quoting Dr. Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the organization. She referenced weekly reports from Chinese authorities indicating a predictable rise in cases.
“As expected for this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere winter, there is a month-over-month increase in acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, RSV, and human metapneumovirus,” she stated in an email.
