The 2014-2016 West African Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak highlighted the urgent need for countries to strengthen their surveillance systems for better epidemic intelligence and control. To support this, the World Bank (WB) provided a Ninety Million Dollars (USD90 Million) credit facility to Nigeria as part of a five year “Regional Disease Surveillance System Enhancement (REDISSE)†project (2018-2022). The REDISSE project, is a ‘series of interconnected projects’ (SOPS) involving multiple borrowers i.e. ECOWAS member countries and coordinated at the regional level by the West African Health Organization (WAHO).
The project seeks to facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration and high impact interventions in four areas: disease surveillance and information systems, emergency preparedness and response, laboratory services, workforce development and One Health governance at the sub-national, national and regional levels.
Since April 2018, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has served as project coordinating unit for Nigeria’s REDISSE project, representing the Federal Ministry of Health, in this unique collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), WB and other relevant institutions.
The REDISSE project has supported the regional training of Rapid Response Teams, the review of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response national guidelines, as well as, providing critical funding through the innovative Contingency Emergency Response funding which was administered by the WHO and UNICEF during the successful response to the Lassa Fever outbreaks in 2018/19. The REDISSE funding has also supported the conduct of the Pathway for Veterinary Services (PVS) gap assessment in the country, recruitment of ad hoc veterinary staff for some states and procurement of vehicles for veterinary officers at the State and LGA levels.
The NCDC, FMARD and WB held a meeting from August 19th -23rd 2019 to review the country’s project work plan. The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress made and validate activities for the last quarter of 2019 and commence planning towards the 2020 work plan.
In attendance at the meeting were the representatives of the project’s National Technical Committee,, NCDC, FMARD, National Veterinary Research Institute, WB, African Field Epidemiology Network, Resolve to Save Lives and the academia.
Summary of Incidents
Ongoing Incidents are defined as confirmed cases where a national EOC or equivalent has been activated
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 99 suspected cases of Lassa Fever (LF) reported from 15 LGAs in eight states and FCT (Edo – 60, Ondo – 18, Ebonyi – 10, Bauchi – 3, Plateau – 1, FCT – 2, Kwara – 1, Kaduna – 2, Oyo - 2). There were five confirmed cases and no death was death recorded
Actions
To date:
• National LF multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels
• Implementation of targeted risk communication and enhanced surveillance activities in affected States
Planned:
• States to complete After Action Review (AAR) template
• National AAR retreat
• Implementation of rodent control measures in hotspot LGAs (Phase 2)
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
Key points
• There were 15 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis reported from six LGAs in two states (Katsina – 14, Plateau – 1). None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• The National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from states and plan appropriately
Planned:
• Conduct After Action Review (AAR)
Yellow Fever
Key points
There were 58 suspected cases of Yellow Fever reported from 36 LGAs in 14 states. Three were confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• The multiagency YF TWG is coordinating national response activities
• The Ebonyi State Incident Coordination Centre is leading the outbreak investigation with support from the national team (NCDC and NPHCDA) and WHO
• International Coordinating Group (ICG) request for Yellow Fever vaccine for the planned reactive mass vaccination campaign in the eight selected LGAs in Ebonyi state has been sent
Planned:
• The 2019 Preventive Mass Vaccination campaign will take place in last quarter of the year in Katsina, Ekiti, Borno, Rivers and Anambra states
• Operationalisation of the three new laboratories added to the Yellow Fever Laboratory network
• Reactive vaccination campaign in Ebonyi led by National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA)
Cholera
Key points
There were 72 suspected cases of Cholera reported from three LGAs in Adamawa State. There were 24 laboratory confirmed cases and no death was recorded.
Actions
To date:
• The Cholera TWG continues to coordinate activities in states in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and support from partners
• A national Rapid Response Team (RRT) is supporting response activities in Adamawa state
Planned:
• Follow up with states to ensure continued surveillance and early reporting
Measles
Key points
• There were 275 suspected cases of measles reported from 101 LGAs in 25 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• The multi-agency national Measles TWG is monitoring and coordinating response activities across the states
• The TWG is closely monitoring response to reported measles outbreak and reviewing measles surveillance data in Abia state and also outbreak response activities in Igabi, LGA of Kaduna state
• The Measles TWG is working closely with NPHCDA towards measles Supplemental Immunization Activity in the country
Planned:
• Conduct After Action Review (AAR) and measles guideline review meetings
• Review of measles surveillance data across the country
Monkeypox
Key points
• There was no reported case of Monkeypox this week
Actions
To date:
• The Monkeypox TWG is monitoring and coordinating response activities across the states
• Surveillance has been enhanced in all affected states
• Offsite support given to affected states
Planned:
• Supportive supervision to non-reporting states in North-Central, South-East, South-West and South-South Zones
• Conduct regional Monkeypox surveillance training in South-East and South-South Zone in September
Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
Key points
• In the reporting week, 111 suspected cases of AFP were reported from 97 LGAs in 23 states and FCT
National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
Key points
• There was a positive case of Influenza subtype A & B (2.2%)
Timeliness and Completeness of Reports
Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State