Weekly Epidemiological Report

December 2020 Week 51

Editoral

NCDC’s Yuletide Communication Campaign: Implication for COVID-19 Control in 2021

Posted: 08-01-2021 08:39:20 PM

In the last few months, many countries in the world have been begun to experience a “second wave” of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, with a sudden increase in the number of cases and deaths reported. Nigeria has been recording increasing number of cases in the last eight weeks, across states. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in leading the public health response, has continued to escalate response activities including risk communications.

The Christmas/New Year period is usually associated with an increase in travel, social events and gatherings. However, these are risk factors that contribute to the spread of COVID-19. In anticipation of this and associated public health risks, one of the key pro-active strategies employed by the NCDC was an intensive risk communication campaign developed specifically for the Yuletide season. t

The NCDC launched a “Celebrate Responsibly Campaign” to raise awareness on measures to take, in reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread among Nigerians. This was done in collaboration with the PTF-COVID-19, State Departments of Public Health, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Nigeria Health Watch, media houses etc.

The key achievements and outputs from the campaign were:

1. 13 call-in radio appearances

2. Six television appearances

3. Six State-level media engagements (Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Abia, Yobe and Zamfara)

4. 20.2 million impressions on facebook

5. 1.34 million impressions on twitter

6. 361 thousand impressions on Instagram

7. 4.6 million impressions on telegram

As we begin the new year, and given the increasing spread of COVID-19, we urge all Nigerians to continue adherence to COVID-19 public health and safety measures. Wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance. These are proven measures to reduce the risk of spread of this disease, that continues to affect lives and livelihood.

In the coming days, the NCDC will continue the next phase of the ‘Take Responsibility’ campaign, reminding Nigerians of these critical measures. We remain committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to protect Nigerians from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases through timely risk communications.


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 78 suspected cases, 12 were laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded from 10 LGAs in 2 States

• One new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 51

Actions

To date:

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

• Risk communication and community engagement activities have been scaled up across States using television, radio, print and social media

Planned:

• Continue mobilisation of resources

• Finalise Lassa fever five-year strategic plan


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

• There were two suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from two 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 98 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 31 LGAs in 14 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 two suspected cases of Cholera reported from Ado Ekiti LGA in Ekiti 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 161 suspected cases of Measles reported from 51 LGAs in 19 states and FCT. There was no laboratory confirmed case 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 76 suspected cases of AFP reported from 59 LGAs in 23 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

• Deployed three National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) to FCT, Kaduna and Lagos States

• Deployed additional 1200 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and 74 supervisors across 35 states and FCT

• Currently supporting active case search in Oyo and Lagos States

• Ongoing on the job refresher training for IPC trainers in all health facilities

Planned:

• Develop plan routine testing for COVID-19

• 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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