Multiple regions in Niger are already struggling with the coronavirus outbreak, and now face an additional polio emergency. Though transmission routes differ—COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets while polio is transmitted via contaminated water or food, or poor hygiene—their early symptoms often overlap, creating diagnostic challenges.

“Niger successfully eliminated previous polio outbreaks through high-quality mass vaccination campaigns in 2019. Unfortunately, these efforts have been paused due to COVID-19 restrictions requiring social distancing and enhanced hand hygiene protocols,” explains Dr. Pascal Mkanda, Coordinator of the Polio Eradication Programme for the African Region.

In December, Niger, Kenya, and Mozambique declared victory over 24-month-long polio outbreaks. However, this new vaccine-derived poliovirus case—which paralyzed two children in Niamey and Tillaberi—originates from a different transmission chain than last year’s outbreak.

“Polio will keep circulating”

“Polio will inevitably continue circulating and could paralyze more children, as quality vaccination campaigns cannot proceed safely in the current environment,” warns Dr. Mkanda.

Niger now joins 14 other African nations battling vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, and Zambia. Weak routine immunization coverage, vaccine hesitancy, remote access issues, and substandard vaccination campaigns have hampered efforts to reach all children.

With mass vaccination campaigns postponed, the African Regional Polio Eradication Programme is working to maintain critical disease surveillance functions. Though no cure exists for polio, the disease is preventable through vaccination. Health authorities in Niger and across the continent are urgently working to boost children’s immunity levels and protect them from polio-related paralysis.