Nigeria usually experiences an increase in the number of Lassa fever and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) cases during the dry season. Ahead of the start of the dry season, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has increased the intensity of outbreak preparedness, at various levels.
Following the large outbreak of Lassa fever in 2018, the National Technical Working Group has developed a five-year strategy, with the goal to reduce the case fatality ratio of Lassa fever. In addition, an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Cerebrospinal Meningitis has been developed.
Risk communications is a key component of these strategies. As part of this, an advocacy meeting with members of the Media and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) was held on 21st November, 2018 in Abuja.
The meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration between NCDC, the media and CSOs. Importantly, discussions involved opportunities to work together to limit misinformation, and utilise various channels to enlighten and educate the public on how to protect themselves and their communities from these infectious diseases.
In addition, NCDC has begun a weekly radio programme, aired every Monday at 5:30pm (WAT) on Radio Nigeria across states in the country. This is targeted at members of the public especially in rural areas, to educate them on prevention against outbreaks. Newspaper adverts on Lassa fever prevention have also been published in major dailies.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will continue to prioritise risk communication, and work with stakeholders to protect the health of Nigerians. For more information on preparedness activities, kindly visit: www.ncdc.gov.ng
SUMMARY OF REPORTS
In the reporting week ending on November 11, 2018:
o There were 214 new cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) reported. None was confirmed as polio. The last reported case of polio in Nigeria was in August 2016. Active case search for AFP is being intensified with the goal to eliminate polio in Nigeria.
o There were 175 suspected cases of Cholera reported from 19 LGAs in eight States (Adamawa – 12, Borno – 86, Gombe – 1, Kaduna – 4, Kano – 32, Katsina – 2, Oyo – 2 and Yobe - 36). Of these, 11 were laboratory confirmed and two deaths were recorded.
o There were 20 suspected cases of Lassa fever reported from nine LGAs in six States (Edo – 3, Ebonyi – 2, Kaduna – 1, Nasarawa – 1, Ondo - 14 & Rivers - 1). Five were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
o There were ten suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from seven LGAs in four States (Bauchi – 2, Katsina – 6, Ondo – 1 & Zamfara – 1). Of these, none was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
o There were 205 suspected cases of measles reported from 28 States. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
In the reporting week, all States sent in their report except Anambra State. Timeliness of reporting remains 87% in both previous and current weeks (44 & 45) while completeness also remains 99% at same period. It is very important for all States to ensure timely and complete reporting at all times, especially during an outbreak.
REPORT ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
1. AFP
1.1. As at November 11th 2018, no new case of WPV was recorded
1.2. In the reporting week, 214 cases of AFP were reported from 173 LGAs in 32 States
1.3. Between week 1 and 45 2018, 7660 suspected cases of AFP have been reported from 750 LGAs in 37 States
1.3.1. AFP Surveillance has been enhanced and outbreak response is on-going in Borno and other high-risk States
2. CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS (CSM)
2.1 In the reporting week, ten suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) cases were reported from seven LGAs (four States; Bauchi – 2, Katsina – 6, Ondo – 1 & Zamfara – 1) compared with 13 suspected case reported from six LGAs (six States) at the same period in 2017 (Figure 1)
2.2 Between weeks 1 and 45 (2018), 4408 suspected meningitis cases with 318 laboratory confirmed and 359 deaths (CFR, 8.1%) from 295 LGAs (34 States) were reported compared with 9857 suspected cases and 602 deaths (CFR, 6.1%) from 323 LGAs (34 States) during the same period in 2017.
2.3 Timeliness/completeness of CSM case-reporting from States to the National Level (2018 versus 2017): on average, 88.2% of the 26 endemic States sent CSM reports in a timely manner while 98.2% were complete in week 1 - 45, 2018 as against 76.4% timeliness and 92.3% completeness recorded within the same period in 2017
CHOLERA
3.1 175 suspected cases of Cholera with 11 Lab. Confirmed cases and two deaths (CFR, 1.1%) were reported from 19 LGAs (eight States; Adamawa – 12, Borno – 86, Gombe – 1, Kaduna – 4, Kano – 32, Katsina – 2, Oyo – 2 and Yobe - 36) in week 45, 2018 compared with 22 suspected cases reported from eight LGAs (four States) during the same period in 2017 (Figure 2).
3.2 Between weeks 1 and 45 (2018), 49,667 suspected Cholera cases with 918 laboratory confirmed and 1125 deaths (CFR, 2.3%) from 242 LGAs (30 States) were reported compared with 3678 suspected cases and 84 deaths (CFR, 2.3%) from 72 LGAs (19 States) during the same period in 2017.
3.3 Plans are ongoing to deescalate the cholera National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to Technical Working Group due to decline in number of new cases reported from States for the last six weeks.
3.4 National Preparedness and Response to Acute Watery Diarrhoea/ Cholera Guidelines available via http://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/docs/protocols/45_1507196550.pdf
4 LASSA FEVER
4.1 In the reporting Week 44 (5 – 11 November, 2018) five new confirmed I cases were reported from Edo (3) and Ondo (2) States with no new death
4.2 From 1st January to 11th November 2018, a total of 3016 suspected cases have been reported from 22 states. Of these, 559 were confirmed positive, 17 are probable, 2440 negative (not a case)
4.3 Since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, there have been 143 deaths in confirmed cases and 17 in probable cases. Case Fatality Rate in confirmed cases is 25.6%
4.4 22 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 90 Local Government Areas (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe, Ekiti, Kaduna, Abia, Adamawa and Enugu). Eighteen states have exited the active phase of the outbreak while four – Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi and Delta States remain activeiv
4.5 Lassa fever international Conference registration open to the public on the conference website www.lic.ncdc.gov.ng
4.6 The Lassa fever national multi-partner, multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate response activities at all levels.
4.7 National VHF guidelines (National Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Preparedness guidelines, Infection Prevention and Control of VHF and Standard Operating Procedures for Lassa fever management) are available on the NCDC website- http://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/guidelines
5 MEASLES
5.1 In the reporting week, 205 suspected cases of measles were reported from 28 States compared with 309 suspected cases and one death (CFR, 0.3%) reported from 36 States during the same period in 2017
5.2 Since the beginning of the year, 15723 suspected measles cases with 1110 Lab. Confirmed and 123 deaths (CFR, 0.8%) were reported from 36 States and FCT compared with 20327 suspected cases with 108 laboratory confirmed and 111 deaths (CFR, 0.55 %) from 36 States and FCT, during the same period in 2017
5.3 Response measures include immunization for all vaccine-preventable diseases in some selected/affected wards/LGAs during SIAs, as well as case management
6 Yellow fever
6.1 In this reporting week 5th - 11th November, 2018, 85 suspected cases were reported
6.2 One inconclusive case was recorded from NCDC Central Public health Laboratory, Lagos in the reporting week from Bakassi LGA in Cross River State
6.3 A national yellow fever Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated at level 2
6.4 From the onset of this outbreak on September 12, 2017, a total of 3,456 suspected yellow fever cases with 56 Laboratory confirmed and 55 deaths (CFR, 1.6%) have been reported from 570 LGAs (36 States & FCT)
6.5 Yellow fever reactive vaccination campaigns conducted in the following States [Kebbi (7 LGAs), Niger (5 LGAs), Sokoto (1 LGA) & Katsina (1 LGA)]
6.6 Yellow fever vaccination campaigns have been successfully completed in six States (Nassarawa, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi, Kwara & Zamfara) and 57 political wards in 25 LGAs in Borno State
6.7 Surveillance activities have been intensified across all States
6.8 The 2018 phase 2b November PMVC to be implemented from 22nd November – 1st December, 2018 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, FCT, Plateau and some LGAs in Borno States. Target population 9 months to 44 years, (85% of the total population)
7. Update on national Influenza sentinel surveillance, Nigeria week 1 – 45, 2018
7.1. From week 1- 44, 313-suspected cases were reported, of which 280 were Influenza like-illness (ILI), 33 Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
7.2 A total of 313 samples were received and all samples were processed. Of the processed samples, 280(89.5%) were ILI cases, 33 (10.5%) were Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
7.3 Of the 280 processed ILI samples, 21 (7.5%) was positive for Influenza A; 29(10.4%) positive for Influenza B and 230 (82.1%) were negative.
7.4 For the processed 33 SARI samples, seven (21.2%) were positive for Influenza A, two (6.1%) were positive for Influenza B, while the remaining 24 (72.7%) were negative.
7.5 Of the 313 processed samples, 59 (18.8%) were positive for Influenza, with 28 (47.5%) of these positive for Influenza A and 31 (52.5%) positive for Influenza B.
7.6 The subtypes A seasonal H3, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 2(7.1%), 24 (85.7%) and 2 (18.5%) of the total influenza A positive samples respectively.
7.7 The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 24(77.4%), 4(12.9%) and 3(9.7%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively
7.8 The percentage of influenza positive was highest (100.0%) in week 43, 2018
7.9 In the reporting week 1 -45, all samples were processed
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Surveillance Unit:
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control,
801 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria.
[email protected]
www.ncdc.gov.ng/reports
0800-970000-10
Toll Free Number: 6232
Whatsapp: +234 708 711 0839
SMS Number: +234 809 955 5577 
