Weekly Epidemiological Report

December 2020 Week 52

Editoral

Strengthening Influenza and COVID-19 surveillance in Nigeria

Posted: 15-01-2021 10:21:15 AM

Globally, viruses have led to large scale public health events such as pandemics. Asides the associated morbidity and mortality, they also cause huge socio-economic, educational and political disruption with almost all facets of lives affected. In the past, the world the has witnessed pandemics like Spanish flu (1918), Swine flu (2009), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (2002) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (2012). The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is not an exception.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to work closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen national preparedness and response capacities for global influenza outbreaks. We are currently working towards establishing an effective and sensitive in-country surveillance system capable of timely detecting all cases presenting with clinical signs and symptoms that may be indicative of influenza or COVID-19. This will be streamlined into the National Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy.

In line with the above, the NCDC is supporting states to strengthen existing National Influenza Sentinel Sites (NISS) through capacity building of workforce as well as logistics support. This is expected to enhance timely case detection, continuous data generation and analysis for informed decision making.

In addition to data on influenza now included in our weekly epidemiological report (WER), we are also introducing a section with highlights on key preparedness and response activities around influenza and COVID-19 in the sentinel sites. Some of the progress recorded as well as ongoing and planned activities include:

1. Established influenza sentinel sites in all six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Currently, there are seven active sites while three have been assessed for operationalisation

2. Sensitised and created awareness on active sentinel sites, with State Ministries of Health

3. Constituted National Technical Working Groups to ensure regular updates of data and coordination of preparedness and response activities

4. Ongoing implementation of developed work plan supported by US Centers for Disease Control (US-CDC)

5. To begin combined influenza and COVID-19 screening/ diagnostic services for all suspected cases using multiplex kits

6. Expand sentinel sites to all the 36 stated plus the Federal Capital Territory (one each in urban and rural areas per state)

7. Set up different pillars within the TWGs for holistic coordination of activities

We are particularly grateful to the World Health Organisation and US-CDC for their continuous support in strengthening influenza surveillance in Nigeria.

The NCDC will continue to provide necessary support to ensure an effective and efficient system is established for influenza surveillance in Nigeria.


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 64 suspected cases, six were laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded from four LGAs in 4 States

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 was one suspected case of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from Funtua LGA in Katsina state. 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 36 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 18 LGAs in 11 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. Led by NPHCDA

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 no cases of Cholera in this reporting week

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 71 suspected cases of measles reported from 31 LGAs in 15 states. There was no laboratory confirmed case and three deaths were 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 one suspected case of monkeypox in the reported in Sapele LGA in Delta State. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

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 49 suspected cases of AFP reported from 43 LGAs in 21 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

• Activated contact tracing monitoring team to engage with states for improvement of surveillance activities

• Constituted a team to review current case definition in view of the new case definition from the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Supporting review of cases of health care worker infection in Kaduna State

• Developing improved logistics reporting system for real time documentation

Planned:

• Provide supervision for NYSC stream 3 screening and safe camp process

• Train laboratory personnel in laboratory network on molecular diagnosis

• Mentor State logistics focal persons


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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