The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) continues to prioritise public workforce development through different learning opportunities. One of these strategies is the establishment of the NCDC internship programme. The NCDC internship programme targets university graduates, masters’ students and community medicine/ public heath resident doctors. The goal is to equip these public health trainees with practical exposures in public health, especially in field epidemiology and other aspects of outbreak response. Our pilot internship programme for community medicine resident doctors ended in March 2019.
On the 6th of June 2019, a new cohort of interns began at NCDC. These are post-baccalaureate interns with educational background in different fields of specialties including medicine, public health law and public health. The training which will last for 12 weeks, is an opportunity for our new interns to gain competencies in areas such as incident management system, field investigation in response to outbreaks; emergency risk assessment; antimicrobial resistance surveillance; simulation exercises; leadership and diplomacy in public health; scientific writing, etc.
The application for the NCDC post-baccaulearate is available via our website- www.ncdc.gov.ng. The internship for resident doctors is available through collaboration with Community Health Departments in teaching hospitals in the country.
At NCDC, we remain committed to supporting the development of a strong public health workforce, to assure our national health security and by extension, global health security.
Summary of incidents
Ongoing Incidents are defined as confirmed cases where a national EOC or equivalent has been activated (EOC is currently activated for Cerebrospinal meningitis and Measles)
Other incidents are those confirmed cases for which EOC is not activated.
Notes
1. Information for this disease was retrieved from the Technical Working Group and Situation Reports
2. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for this disease is reported for confirmed cases only
3. Information for this disease was retrieved from IDSR 002 data
4. CFR for this disease is reported for total cases i.e. suspected + confirmed
5. Information for sentinel influenza was retrieved from the laboratory.
Lassa fever
Key points
• There were 81 suspected cases of Lassa fever from 21 LGAs in 10 States (Edo - 47, Ondo - 18, Ebonyi - 4, Bauchi - 3, Plateau - 1, Taraba - 3, Kaduna -1, Kogi – 1, Enugu - 1, Kebbi - 2). Three cases were laboratory confirmed (Edo and Ondo States) and no death was recorded.
Actions
To date:
• National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels
• Multi sectoral one health national rapid response teams (NCDC, NFELTP and Federal Ministry of Environment) were deployed to Kebbi State
Planned:
• Conduct State specific AAR meetings
• Support indigent patients with treatment cost through Basic Health Care Provision Funds
• Harmonisation of LF laboratory and surveillance data into one database platform currently ongoing
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
Key points
• There were 28 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis reported from 20 LGAs in 9 States (Borno – 4, Cross River – 1, Ebonyi – 1, Jigawa – 2, Katsina – 7, Kebbi – 1, Osun – 1, Plateau – 4 & Sokoto - 7). None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
• Sabon Birni and Dange Shuni LGAs of Sokoto State crossed the alert threshold.
Actions
To date:
• The National CSM Emergency Operations Centre meets weekly to review the situation. There is a decline in the number of cases
Planned:
• Intensify surveillance in all States by providing onsite/offsite support
• Continue follow-up with the States to enhance reporting and preparedness
• Continue engagement with Sokoto State on CSM case management training for Clinicians
Yellow fever
Actions
To date:
• A multiagency YF TWG coordinates the response activities
• Offsite support is provided to Ondo and Delta States
• YF surveillance is enhanced in all the States and harmonization of surveillance and laboratory data is on-going
• Planning meetings for the YF after action meeting is also on-going
• The second draft of the YF National Guidelines on Preparedness and Response has been completed and will be reviewed at the Post Simulation exercise (Simex) meeting to hold in Lagos on 10-11th June, 2019
Planned:
• Follow up with NPHCDA on the YF reactive vaccination campaign pre-implementation activities
• Continue with the planning of the YF AAR meeting and post Simex feedback meeting
• Follow up with the YF Guidelines review.
Cholera
Key points
There were 26 suspected cases of cholera reported from 4 LGAs in 2 States (Ebonyi -16 and Katsina - 10). None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
Actions
To date:
• NCDC cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate cholera activities in States in collaboration with FMWR and support from partners
• Routine monitoring of States through IDSR
• Cholera specific jingles were developed and other IECs reviewed
• Cholera 2019 National preparedness and response Plan finalised
Planned:
• Continuous monitoring of cholera situation in all states
• Support states in cholera outbreak preparedness activities
• Print and disseminate IECs to all states
• Continuous collaboration with FMWR, FMEnv and partners.
Measles
Key points
• There were 1589 suspected cases reported from 27 States and FCT. Four cases were laboratory confirmed and six deaths were recorded
Actions
To date:
• The multi-agency National Measles EOC is monitoring and coordinating response activities across the States
• Measles reactive vaccination conducted in Borno state
• Teleconference with states with highest burden of cases (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe)
• Media messages developed and disseminated across social and conventional media
• Case management guideline developed and disseminated
Planned:
• A bi-weekly teleconference with Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Katsina States to follow up on outbreak response activities
• Intensify surveillance and updating of Measles line list
Monkey pox
Key points
• Two new suspected cases were reported from Bayelsa and Lagos State. Both cases were confirmed and no new death was recorded.
Actions
To date:
• Surveillance has been enhanced in all affected States
Planned:
• Supportive supervisory visits to Bayelsa State
Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
Key points
• In the reporting week, 145 suspected cases of AFP were reported from 129 LGAs in 32 States and FCT
• As at 26th May, 2019, no new case of WPV was recorded
• The last reported case of polio in Nigeria was in August 2016
Actions
To date:
• Complete documentation report review mission by International Support Team (West Africa) is ongoing.
• The first round of outbreak response (OBR) targeted at the South western States has been concluded and plans are ongoing for the second round.
National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
Key points
• There was a positive case of Influenza subtype A&B (4.43.1%)
• The predominant Influenza A subtype so far this year was A seasonal H3 19 (95%).
• The predominant Influenza B subtype so far this year was B not subtyped 2(100%).
• The percentage influenza positive was highest (100.0%) in week 8