Osamagbe Imadiyi
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Deputy Director, Paul Odenyi, on Monday, the National Orientation Agency announced the launch of a nationwide awareness campaign to inform Nigerians about the Human Metapneumovirus as part of efforts to protect public health.
The NOA’s Director of Health and Social Care, Dr. Olufemi Ayoola, said in a statement that the campaign is a proactive step to make sure Nigerians are aware of the virus and how to stop its spread.
He assured the public not to panic but to continue practicing good hygiene, clarifying that there are no documented cases of HMPV in Nigeria. According to Ayoola, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control has already put preventative measures into place and given residents the assurance that things are under control.
He recommended routine hand washing, wearing a nose mask in crowded areas, and avoiding close contact with sick people as basic preventive measures.
Ayoola claims that the human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that causes flu-like symptoms like fever, coughing, sore throat, and congestion of the nose. In extreme situations, particularly in children, it can result in pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or wheezing.
Contact with contaminated surfaces and respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing are the main ways that the virus spreads.
Nigerians should rely on credible sources and refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated rumors that could incite fear, the NOA emphasized, stressing the value of accurate information.
Additionally, the agency reaffirmed its mission to expand the campaign to all local government areas and rural communities in collaboration with the NCDC and other partners.
