Dengue outbreaks in northern Nigeria: Evaluating the recommended Takeda vaccine and future prevention strategies.

Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), poses a significant public health challenge globally, with Nigeria experiencing sporadic outbreaks. A clear understanding of the dengue burden has not been achieved in Nigeria, just as in other African countries. Understanding the epidemiology and burden of dengue fever is essential for effective prevention and control strategies. This paper examines the recent dengue outbreaks in northern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto state, and evaluates the recommended Takeda dengue vaccine (TDV) along with future prevention strategies. Despite limited surveillance and underreporting, dengue fever is endemic in Nigeria (with over 5 million cases and 5000 dengue-related deaths in 2023), with recent outbreaks indicating a growing concern. The TDV, a live attenuated tetravalent vaccine, has shown promise in preventing dengue fever, but challenges such as vaccine acceptance and accessibility need to be addressed. Global urbanization contributes to the disease's spread, which is influenced by factors such as population density, cultural beliefs, water storage practices, hygiene, and water supply accessibility. Future prevention strategies must focus on government intervention, community practices, and innovative vector control measures to mitigate the spread of DENV in Nigeria. This study will serve as a valuable reference for policymakers, researchers, and clinicians in the management and control of DENV in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Human Papilloma Virus Infection, Vaccines, and Cervical Cancer Prevention among School Students in Kano, Nigeria.

The rising cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer cases in Nigeria are alarming. Only a few studies have looked at secondary school students in Nigeria's understanding of HPV infection and vaccine acceptance, whereas earlier studies have mostly focused on screening. In this study, 400 students from two secondary schools in Kano State, Nigeria, were engaged with the aim of assessing their level of knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV infection. The study further seeks to understand the respondent's opinion on HPV vaccination and sensitize them to the health effects of HPV infection, thereby communicating the findings to the authorities concerned with policy making. The study revealed that only 128 (32%) and 142 (35.5%) respondents have knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, respectively. Furthermore, none of the respondents were administered the HPV vaccine, with 81% of them not ready to take the vaccine. It was observed that the majority of the respondents (91%) believed that early hospital visits could help in mitigating HPV or cervical cancer cases. Following their sensitization, the respondents were observed to have different levels of satisfaction, ranging from very satisfied and satisfied to not satisfied. Effective awareness creation amongst students as well as parents is therefore essential in HPV vaccination projects, as well as in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Dengue virus and SARS-CoV-2 Co-infection dynamics: An emerging threat among African countries.

The rising circulation of the vector borne disease such as dengue fever amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in African countries is on the rise, which pose a significant public health threat. In this article, we discussed the co-infection of dengue virus (DENV) (the causative agent of dengue fever) and SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agents of COVID-19) as well as the associated risk factors involved. Our review highlights that the continuous increase in the incidence and disease mortality from the co-infection of dengue Virus and SARS-CoV-2 is as result of inadequate surveillance and limited testing centers. Second, the overlapping clinical features and indistinguishable symptoms from both infections is a major challenge. Third, lack of scientific prudence among stakeholders has played a significant impact on how to contain these diseases. Therefore, there is a need to reassess research priorities in understanding the risk factors involved from the coinfection. Also, the development of accurate point-of-care diagnostics for COVID-19 and dengue fever coupled with community-based health intervention programs is highly essential for control.