The federal government will activate surveillance measures for passengers coming from China following the current surge of a respiratory virus, the director, Special Duties, Office of the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Prevention, Dr John Oladejo has said.
He said Sunday that the measure is to curb the spread of the virus.
The health authorities in Nigeria are implementing emergency measures to monitor and manage the spread of the HMPV.
The virus, attributed to the Human Metapneumovirus, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
Reports indicate that the virus has led to overcrowded hospitals, emergency measures and public concerns in China and neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong are closely monitoring the HMPV situation, having reported a few cases but no widespread outbreaks, according to reports.
The Chinese authorities said there has been a noticeable increase in HMPV cases, especially among children under 14 years in northern part of the country.
In response to the rising cases, the Chinese government announced measures, including constant monitoring of cases, the adoption of masks, social distancing and disinfection of public spaces to curb the increase of the virus.
The HMPV and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses, there are important differences. HMPV typically causes milder symptoms such as a cold or flu, while COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can lead to more severe health complications and long-term effects.
HMPV is also a seasonal virus, similar to other cold-causing pathogens like RSV, and infections usually peak during the winter months. HMPV, like COVID-19, spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and it can also spread via contaminated surfaces.
However, officials from the National Health Commission stated that while respiratory diseases are expected to rise during the winter months, the overall situation this year is less severe than last year.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday that, “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season. The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year,” she said.