Kaduna: Polio virus exist in 10 LGs, govt warns

From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

Kaduna state government has warned that wild polio virus existed in ten local government area of the state, just as it  restated its commitment to the total eradication of the virus in the state.

 In a statement signed by James Swam, Press Secretary to the deputy governor and made available to newsmen said  the Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga  disclosed this at Kakangi, Giwa local government areas on Saturday during a special mop up vaccination exercise and sensitization of locals in the state.

 He said despite the fact that a   report indicated the possibility of the presence of the virus in about ten local governments; the virus has not affected any child in those areas yet.

“ We are only concerned of the potential reoccurrence. The virus is there, but it has not affected any child yet. From a test that was conducted, it was found out that the virus exist in about ten local governments that is why we have embarked on intensive immunization exercise in those communities,” he said.

He said so far there has not been any reported case of wild polio in the state in the last 19 months which is a positive development.

Bajoga added that the state government was concerned about the discovery and would do everything possible to ensure the virus didn’t spread to other local government areas of the state.

He also expressed appreciation to the collaboration between the state and all stakeholders in the fight against polio as he assured them of state government continue support and readiness to provide enabling environment for international partners and NGOs to work towards eradication of polio in the state.

The statement also recalled that a non-governmental organization, NGO, Journalists against Polio, JAP, recently raised alarm of the discovery of the virus under a bridge in Zaria, noting the importance of a rapid sensitization and vaccination.