Estimating transportation role in pandemic diffusion in Nigeria: A consideration of 1918-19 influenza and COVID-19 pandemics

Abstract

Background The focus of the study is to assess the role of different transport means in the importation and diffusion of 1918-19 influenza and a novel 2019 corona virus designated as COVID-19 in Nigeria. Methods The study provides a review of the means by which the two pandemics were imported into the country and the roles the transport means of each period played in the local spread of the epidemics. Results The study notes that seaports and railways, being the emerging transportation modes in the country were significant to the importation and local diffusion of 1918-19 influenza, respectively, while air transport is significant to the importation of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions The study concludes that increasing preference for the transport at a given epoch is significant to the diffusion of prevailing epidemic in the epoch.

Dealing with impact of COVID-19 on transportation in a developing country: Insights and policy recommendations

“…Some evidence showed that COVID-19 spread constraints on food transportation, security and farm labour in Nigeria. Olapoju (2020) established the role of transportation in the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The author found the seaports and railways as the major hub of the 1918–19 influenza diffusion, while air transport was primarily responsible for inward spreads of COVID-19 in Nigeria.…”

Mode of Presentation and Outcomes of COVID-19 Cases in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

“…One of the patients that presented to the hospital during the early phase of the pandemic in Nigeria, had a history of travel. This goes to support the narration that most early cases of the infection in Nigeria were either imported cases or those in contact with the imported cases [20]. Another important dimension of the contact history is that four of the patients had a history of contact with hospitals where confirmed cases have been reported earlier.…”

Social distancing and revenue management—A post-pandemic adaptation for railways

“…Public transport sector is one of the worst-affected industries during pandemics due to travel restrictions and passenger reluctance [14] . Some inherent conditions, such as high occupant density, common contact points, extensive interaction hours and difficulty in tracking infected individuals, cause public transportation to be regarded as a crucial player in the spread of virus [15] , [16] , [17] . According to studies on airborne diseases, road and rail travels play a significant role in the spread of virus to multiple cities due to extensive interaction hours during the journey [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] .…”