From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Health has said it is deeply concerned about the increasing human interactions with fruit bats, which have proven to be major reservoirs for zoonotic diseases.
The government said the increasing interest of human beings, particularly people from Benue and neighbouring states, portend a serious danger to the health of other Nigerians.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, alongside other stakeholders in the health sector, raised the concerns in Abuja, on Friday, during a meeting of members of National One Health Steering Committee, which provides leadership for the early prevention and resolution of the public health crisis, using a One Health approach.
Pate said the initiative of the One Health Steering Committee and Joint Risk Assessment, was in response to a recent call for action, following public health concerns and safety in Benue State as a result of the outcome of research on fruit bats and the risk of spillover of zoonotic diseases.
He said the objectives of the meeting was to strengthen discussions on the potential spillover of zoonotic diseases from fruit bats, and efforts to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians; and also provide policy advice on research conducted on One Health priority pathogens; and in addition to that, strengthen efforts to implement One Health in Nigeria.
Head, Surveillance and Epidemiology Department, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade, in a presentation, highlighted the dangers that accompany the increasing human interactions with fruit bats.
She disclosed that fruit bats are reservoirs of many infectious agents, including parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi, stressing that epidemiology of infectious diseases in bats is yet to be well understood, but it’s confirmed that fruit bats can transmit numerous infectious agents, and are reservoirs for emerging pathogens.
Meanwhile, Dr. Clement Meseko of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NNVI), Vom, Plateau State, has commended the government for supporting the One Health Steering Committee, particularly its actions and research on human interactions with fruit bats.