The Federal Government has started serious checks at Nigeria’s big international airports to stop the spread of a new virus called Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). This virus, recently found in China, is spreading fast in some other countries.
The Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, has asked health workers at the airports to check passengers coming into the country for signs of the virus. These checks have started at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Although the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has not yet told airlines to do extra checks, airport workers are carefully watching travellers from outside the country.
This action is similar to what Nigeria did during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, the first COVID-19 case in Nigeria came from an Italian man who landed at the Lagos airport in 2020. The government is using the lessons learned during that time to stop new diseases from spreading.
HMPV is a virus that causes breathing problems. It mostly affects children under five and older people. The virus spreads when people cough or sneeze, and it can cause fever, cough, and breathing issues. In some cases, it can lead to serious sickness like pneumonia.
This virus has already caused many hospital visits in countries like India, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. In the UK, over 5,000 people have been hospitalized because of this virus.
Many people travel through Nigeria’s airports every day, so checking travellers is a smart way to stop the virus from entering the country.
How to Stay Safe
To protect yourself from HMPV and other sicknesses:
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
2. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
3. Avoid crowded places if possible.
4. Stay home if you feel sick.