Nigeria has heightened surveillance at its major international airports to curb the potential spread of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus recently reported in China.
Following directives from Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, port health officers have commenced screening arriving passengers for symptoms of HMPV. These checks are underway at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, though the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has yet to issue specific guidelines to airlines regarding additional measures.
Reassuring the public, an official at MMIA stated, “Port Health Services are actively screening passengers to ensure no risks are overlooked.”
The virus has raised global alarm, spreading to countries including India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, with over 5,000 hospitalizations in the UK alone, primarily among children under five and the elderly.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. In an advisory, the agency dispelled rumors of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and outlined preventive measures such as hand hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and seeking medical care for severe symptoms.
Experts like Dr. Francis Ohanyido and Professor Oluwasogo Olalubi have called for swift and coordinated actions, emphasizing surveillance, public awareness, and preparedness, including scaling up healthcare facilities and ensuring availability of critical medical supplies.
HMPV, which can cause illnesses ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory infections, poses significant risks to young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Proactive steps, such as maintaining good hygiene and isolating symptomatic individuals, are crucial to limiting its spread.
Ojoma Akor (Abuja), Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos) & Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilọrin)
