While several areas of Niger are already struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, a new health emergency has surfaced: the return of polio. This virus has recently been detected in two children residing in the Niamey and Tillaberi regions. Although the transmission methods differ—coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets while polio is contracted via contaminated water, food, or poor hand hygiene—the two diseases share similar clinical symptoms, such as fever, coughing, and headaches.
The challenge of suspended vaccination campaigns
In 2019, Niger successfully halted previous polio outbreaks through high-quality mass immunization efforts. However, current circumstances have complicated the situation. “Maintaining these vaccination drives is currently impossible because they have been paused to prioritize the COVID-19 response, which mandates strict handwashing and social distancing protocols,” notes Dr Pascal Mkanda, who coordinates the polio eradication program in the African Region.
Last December, Niger, Kenya, and Mozambique celebrated the end of outbreaks that had persisted for two years. Unfortunately, the current cases involving a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus are entirely separate from the previous epidemic.
Continued circulation of the virus
According to Dr Mkanda, the virus will inevitably continue to spread and risks paralyzing more children as long as mass vaccination remains on hold. Niger is now among 15 nations on the continent facing outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus. The list includes Angola, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, République centrafricaine, Tchad, Côte d’Ivoire, République démocratique du Congo, Éthiopie, Ghana, Mali, Nigéria, Togo, and Zambie.
Factors such as inadequate routine immunization, vaccine hesitancy, geographical barriers, and sub-optimal campaign quality have made it difficult to protect every child in these regions. While large-scale vaccination is currently postponed, health authorities in the African Region are focused on maintaining vital disease surveillance. Although polio has no cure, it is entirely preventable through a simple vaccine. Efforts are currently underway across Niger and the continent to strengthen child immunity and prevent further cases of paralysis.