THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), says it is committed to safeguarding public health, following reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China and other regions.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, emphasising the agency’s readiness to address potential threats.
The HMPV outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals in China, sparking global concerns.
Videos circulating on social media depicted over-crowded waiting rooms and strained healthcare systems, raising alarm in parts of Asia and beyond.
Idris said that the NCDC was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to monitor global developments and take proactive measures to ensure that Nigeria is prepared.
The NCDC, apart from its advisory, also introduced COVID-19 protocols at the airports and borders.
It listed the measures taken as comprehensive situation analysis at Points of Entry (PoEs); development of an HMPV Entry Implementation Protocol as approved by the Health Minister Prof. Ali Pate and the identification of quarantine facilities for managing suspected or confirmed cases. NCDC Director-General (DG) Jide Idris said that following the dynamic risk assessment, the agency, in collaboration with others, is strengthening its preparedness at the PoEs, among other steps, to mitigate the potential transmission of HMPV through international travel.
“The key actions taken, he said, include a comprehensive situation analysis at PoEs, the development of an HMPV Entry Implementation Protocol approved by the Minister of Health and the identification of quarantine facilities for managing suspected or confirmed cases.”
He also said Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) materials and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) resources are being deployed to frontline staff and travelers. Idris added that surveillance has been enhanced with the National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) sites monitoring Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), now including testing for HMPV. In addition to laboratories in states with international airports being equipped to facilitate the testing, the Director General said hospitals nationwide have received advisories on IPC practices, while healthcare workers are being trained for case management preparedness.
He also spoke about stockpiles of personal protective equipment, laboratory reagents and essential supplies for deployment. Through risk communication and community engagement, Idris said NCDC has continued to ensure clear public messaging, dispelling misinformation, and encouraging appropriate health-seeking behavior, underscoring its commitment to proactive health security.
Dispelling public concern, he said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had not declared HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
He said that Nigeria’s National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system had not detected any unusual increase in respiratory infections locally.
Although no cases of HMPV have been reported in Nigeria, Idris said that the NCDC had ramped up surveillance efforts nationwide.
The DG said that the agency had enhanced monitoring for respiratory infections, including HMPV, at sentinel sites across the country. He also urged healthcare providers to report any unusual spikes in respiratory illnesses, while stressing the importance of preventive measures, such as regular handwashing, mask-wearing in crowded spaces, and staying home when unwell.
The WHO has acknowledged the rise in acute respiratory infections in China, particularly among children, as reported by China’s National Health Commission.
However, the UN Health Organisation has not released specific data on HMPV. Health experts describe HMPV as a known virus with established immunity in the population.
While it can cause severe illness in vulnerable groups, it does not pose the same global threat as COVID-19.
