Weekly Epidemiological Report

December 2020 Week 50

Editoral

2020 in review: 10 highlights for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

Posted: 31-12-2020 07:08:05 PM

The year 2020 was been unprecedented in various ways. In addition to deploying a vast amount of resources to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCD) also worked closely with colleagues at the state level, World Health Organisation and other relevant partners to respond to concurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever and yellow fever, as well as continuous surveillance and response to cases of cholera, monkeypox and measles.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives and livelihood of Nigerians, and strained our health sector. In leading the national public health response, we have continuously employed diverse strategies at national and subnational levels. We have especially supported states to strengthen their capacities for outbreak prevention, preparedness, detection and response in Nigeria.

This week’s editorial provides a summary of ten major highlights in the year 2020. The NCDC:

1. Provided support to states to respond to COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks through timely deployment of Rapid Response Teams, provision of medical and laboratory commodities and supplies, development of relevant guidelines and protocols etc.

2. Conducted COVID-19 household sero-prevalence survey to foster better understanding of the burden of the disease in Nigeria

3. Established State Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) in additional seven states as well as integration of two polio PHEOCs in Nigeria. Only two states in Nigeria do not have a PHEOC currently

4. Finalised Nigeria’s National Multi-Hazard Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan

5. Launched the 3rd edition of the National Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response guidelines

6. Fully deployed Surveillance Outbreak Response Management Analysis System (SORMAS) for digital surveillance to all the 774 LGAs across all the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT

7. Established infection prevention and control programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities including the military and paramilitary health facilities

8. Implemented various activities of the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with facilitation of National Technical Working group meetings

9. Established and activated new molecular laboratories across Nigeria. Every state in Nigeria has at least one public health laboratory with molecular testing capacity

10. Strengthened partnerships with local, regional and global institutions

Given the current increase in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, we urge Nigerians to continue to take responsibility to prevent further spread of the disease. The NCDC remains committed to its mandate to protect the health of Nigerians and enable stronger national health security.


Summary of Incidents

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 59 suspected cases, five were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded from 28 LGAs in 10 States

Actions

To date:

• National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate response activities at all levels

• State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre have been activated in affected States

• National Rapid Response Teams have been deployed from NCDC to support response activities in ten States

Planned:

• Continue mobilisation of resources

• Finalise the Lassa fever five-year strategic plan


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

• There were five suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from four LGAs in two States. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date:

• National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from States and plan appropriately

• Enhanced surveillance in all States

Planned:

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data

• Continue to ensure that states reporting cases send their line lists and collect CSM samples


Yellow Fever

Key points

• There were 55 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 29 LGAs in 18 states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date:

• National YF multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states

• Nigeria has secured ICG approval for reactive mass vaccination campaign in 11 LGAs of Enugu (9) and Ebonyi (2) States

• Preventive mass vaccination campaigns (PMVC) have been concluded in all LGAs in Benue, Oyo, and Ondo States

Planned:

• Print IEC materials and distribute to states to sensitise communities and increase awareness for YF

• Continue to support affected states across all pillars of response

• Continue harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data ongoing


Cholera

Key points

• There were four suspected cases of cholera reported from Southern Ijaw LGA in Bayelsa State. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date

• National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all States and supporting affected States

Planned:

• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting States

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


Measles

Key points

• There were 95 suspected cases of measles reported from 63 LGAs in 18 States. One was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date

• National Measles TWG is closely monitoring measles surveillance data and providing feedback to relevant agencies and development partners

• Weekly surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation ongoing

Planned:

• Intensify follow up with States to update and transmit line list

• Continue monthly measles surveillance data review


Monkeypox

Key points

• There was no suspected case of monkeypox in the reporting week

Actions

To date

• National Monkeypox Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring activities in all States

Planned:

• Enhance surveillance for monkeypox in high burden States

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

• There were 80 suspected cases of AFP reported from 68 LGAs in 24 States and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance

Key points

• The subtypes A seasonal H3, A seasonal H1, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 1(1.9%), 2(3.7%), 17(31.5%) and 34(63.0%) of the total influenza A positive samples respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 3(27.3%), 8(72.7%) and 0(0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively.

• The percentage Influenza positive was highest in week 7 with 37.5%.


Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Actions

To date:

• National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across States

• Ongoing real time daily coordination and thematic pillars engagement with States’ response teams

• Ongoing planning of the next round of data review engagement with States

• Held strategic meetings with State focal persons regarding upsurge of confirmed COVID cases nationally

• Developed and shared messages for the Yuletide season

Planned:

• Conduct e-fresher courses training for IPC trainers

• Follow up and assessment of hand hygiene facilities under the Orange Network programme

• Finalise laboratory quality assurance plan


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

Highlight of the week

  • Summary of Incidents
  • Lassa Fever
  • Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
  • Yellow Fever
  • Cholera
  • Measles
  • Monkeypox
  • Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
  • National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
  • Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

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