The Nigerian government has heightened surveillance measures for incoming passengers from China due to a surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases.
This move comes after reports of overcrowded hospitals and emergency measures in China, particularly in northern provinces, where the virus has severely affected children under 14 ¹.
HMPV, a respiratory virus similar to the flu, spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. While typically less severe than COVID-19, it poses significant risks to young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Dr. John Oladejo of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated that quarantine measures would be activated for passengers arriving from affected regions. “The Federal Government will activate surveillance measures, like quarantine, for passengers coming in from China,” Dr. Oladejo said ².
Experts, including virologist Dr. Moses Adewumi, have emphasized the importance of continuous surveillance and research to prevent the virus’s spread. “Surveillance should always be part of us… The government should be more involved in surveillance because most of the surveillance and all the research we do is funded by foreign bodies,” Dr. Adewumi noted ¹.
The NCDC has also begun integrating HMPV testing into its existing surveillance platform for respiratory illnesses, ensuring readiness to detect and manage potential cases ³.
