The United Nations Children' s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed the re- emergence of the poliovirus in Kano State and eight other Nigerian states, raising public health concerns over a fresh outbreak of the disease.
UNICEF' s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah, made the announcement during a high- level strategy meeting with government officials and development partners. Farah revealed that the outbreak is due to the spread of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), largely fueled by low routine immunization rates, particularly in high- risk regions.
In 2024 alone, Nigeria recorded 83 new cases of cVPV2. Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa have emerged as epicenters, with a disturbing concentration of children— especially those in remote or underserved communities— having not received even a single dose of the polio vaccine.
UNICEF expressed serious concern over the growing number of " zero- dose" children in Kano, which it identified as one of Nigeria' s largest pools of unvaccinated children. Farah stressed that these gaps in immunization coverage threaten the country' s hard- earned progress in eradicating polio.
The organization called for urgent, collective action from local authorities, traditional leaders, and healthcare providers to address the resurgence. Strengthening routine immunization services and enhancing community outreach efforts are key components of the response strategy.
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