Worried by the Zika virus outbreak in the North and South America, which has damaged the brain development of several babies, Nigerians have called on the Federal Government to develop effective and adequate protection for its citizens, in the event of a possible outbreak in the country.
According to Pharmanews investigation, the citizens bared their minds out on the state of things in the country, explaining why the government should prepare herself against the spread of the virus, in order to avert an addition to the already existing burden of Lassa fever at hand.
The pregnant women at the Oak Hospital Antenatal Clinic, Wednesday, who formed the majority of our vox pop, said although the government has issued a precautionary measure on travelling to affected countries, as well as prevention of mosquito bites, insisted that by now, there should have been provisions in form of vaccine or other drugs, to treat infected pregnant women and babies.
Mrs Titilayo Aina, a-7-month pregnant woman, noted how she has not been at rest ever since the WHO declared that the virus is a global public emergency, which could spread to any part of the world, Nigeria inclusive.
“As for me, I cannot risk my unborn baby’s life, due to government’s negligence. That is the more reason we are crying and pleading with President Mohammed Buhari, to allocate special fund to researchers to develop vaccine for the treatment of this disease, in order to be sure we are safe”, Mrs Ugo Kalu stated.
According to a WHO fact sheet, Zika virus infection, which is caused by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, usually causing mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle pain and headache, has already been found in 21 countries in the Caribbean, North and South America.
The virus has also been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains following which some countries have advised women not to get pregnant.
There are also indications that Nigeria is in danger of dengue fever outbreak, another deadly fever in the class of Ebola Virus Disease, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito (yellow fever mosquitoes) and Aedes albopictusis (tiger mosquitoes) that are now common in the country mostly in and around homes.
