Nigeria reported no wild poliovirus cases since 2016 when the most recent case (by date of onset) was reported in Monguno Local Government Area, Borno, with onset on 21 August 2016.

Image/Robert Herriman
Image/Robert Herriman

In addition, no circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus cases were seen in Nigeria since 2016, until now.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), one new case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) has been confirmed in Nigeria this week, occurring in Kaugama district, Jigawa state, with onset on 15 April 2018.

Following notification of initial cVDPV2 isolates from January and February, the programme conducted enhanced vaccination activities using IPV in 13 high-risk wards (target population approximately 55 000 children).

Since confirmation of cVDPV2 in Nigeria, the country has conducted additional acute flaccid paralysis surveillance strengthening activities including enhanced active surveillance visits, and community sampling.

The programme has also carried out extensive search for type 2 containing vaccines (tOPV/mOPV2) in the areas surrounding where the virus was detected.