Nigeria Declared Safe from Coronavirus Threat: Health Minister’s Assurance

Health Minister Confirms: No Coronavirus Risk for Nigeria

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, has reassured Nigerians that the country is not at risk from the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory infection that has been reported at higher rates in some parts of China.

He emphasized that HMPV is not a new virus in Nigeria and has been identified as a cause of lower respiratory tract and severe acute respiratory infections, particularly among children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Salako urged the public to maintain good hygiene practices, especially as the season associated with the virus approaches. He also noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that HMPV does not currently pose a threat to public health.

In response to concerns about a new coronavirus variant, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued new COVID-19 protocols. The NCDC declared that Nigeria is not at risk from the new variant, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on the NCDC’s response to the new COVID-19 variant, you can watch the following video: