THE Federal Government yesterday commissioned a technical research into the Zika virus strain.This is coming as the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, hinted that some Nigerians were immune to Zika Virus.

At a meeting with the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) in Abuja, yesterday, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, hinted that a strain of the Zika Virus has been in Nigeria for 60 years without harming anybody.

The research is to study this strain and find out how it could be useful in checking the one ravaging Latin America and other parts of the world.

He has, therefore, directed the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to conduct a research into the strain to guide the country.

He said: “When we visited the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) yesterday, we asked that that very important agency should immediately start looking at the Zika Virus. You know that it has been here over 60 years ago. But when it was in Nigeria, it didn’t have the sort of effect that it now has in some parts of the world. Definitely, it must have some strains to be studied because it is spreading very fast.

“NABDA has the capacity. Nigeria must recognise that when we had the Ebola Virus, it was NABDA that developed Ebola Test Kits that enabled us to quickly test and find out who has Ebola Virus or not. Otherwise, it would have taken days to do that.  We believe that we need to engage our research institutes in areas that are of great importance to the health of our nation.”

At a briefing in Abuja, Adewole noted: “Nigerian scientists working in Western Nigeria in 1954 discovered Zika Virus in Nigeria. Further studies in the years 1975 to 1979 showed that 40 per cent of Nigeria adults and 25 per cent of Nigerian children have antibodies to Zika Virus, meaning they are protected against this virus.

“It is important however, to state categorically, that until now in Africa and Nigeria inclusive, this virus does not cause any serious illness and those so far infected individually recover fully with no serious complications.”
He directed Nigerians returning from affected countries to report themselves to any health centre if they start to feel any sickness that requires care.

“Such a person should inform the healthcare workers about their travel history. I have instructed the Port Health Services of my ministry to immediately adjust and include points of entry screening to capture anti-Zika activities,” he added.

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