The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris, on Thursday said the country is not under serious threat of the Human Metapneumovirus.
Dr Idris said this while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.
“Let me say there’s no serious threat for now. That’s one. Two, this HMPV virus, it’s not a new virus. It’s just that it’s not well-known.
“But it’s been implicated in many respiratory infections over the years, over the countries, especially in children, and elderly people.
“Just like the normal flu, old virus or influenza, respiratory virus, it’s just one of those causes of respiratory problems,” he stated.
HMPV is a respiratory virus that can cause illnesses ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory infections, particularly in young children, older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for HMPV. Supportive care, such as rest, hydration, and fever management, remains the primary approach to recovery.
Symptoms of the virus include cough, fever, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, bronchitis or pneumonia (in vulnerable populations such as very young children, older people, patients with low immunity such and those on cancer treatment, uncontrolled diabetes etc).
HMPV spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing; close personal contact (e.g., touching or shaking hands); touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face; and overcrowding and poor ventilation can lead to increased transmission, e.g., in congregate settings such as correctional centers and poorly managed IDPs.
Idris also noted that the agency is in a monitoring and alert phase and will take instructions from the World Health Organisation.
Earlier, the agency said the risk assessment conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners classified the risk of HMPV for Nigeria as moderate.
The NCDC who made this known in a public advisory signed by its Director General, Dr Jide Idris on Monday, noted that it is closely monitoring the situation and has implemented actions to ensure public health safety.
It also clarified that the World Health Organisation has not declared HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
