Weekly Epidemiological Report

February 2020 Week 8

Editoral

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Training on COVID-19 for Health Facilities and Healthcare Workers in the Private Sector

Posted: 09-03-2020 06:11:56 PM

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 31st of December 2019. Since then, the disease has spread at an exponential rate across several countries on all continents except Antarctica. On the 27th of February, Nigeria also confirmed its first case of the disease. In line with this, a national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was activated at the highest level, to coordinate response activities using the principles of Incident Management System (see details here).

The NCDC has continued to implement activities aimed at preventing the spread of the disease in Nigeria. This includes the development and dissemination of guidelines on IPC measures to both public and private health facilities. In view of the critical role the private sector plays in healthcare delivery in Nigeria, it is imperative to actively integrate them into the strategic alliance to strengthen response activities and resilience to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Nigeria.

Accordingly, the IPC pillar of the national COVID-19 EOC recently conducted training on IPC in FCT (Guild of Medical Directors) and Lagos (Guild of Medical Directors and Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria).

The objectives of the training were to;

1. Improve IPC adherence across private hospitals in the country

2. Prevent the spread of COVID-19, Lassa fever and other infectious disease

3. Build the capacity and resilience of the private health facility networks in epidemic response and preparedness

4. Augment on-going health system response to COVID-19 at the national, state and local government levels

5. Reinforce IPC behaviour and practices within private healthcare facilities

6. Provide a veritable and trusted information platform for healthcare workers (HCWs) within the private sector through alignment with NCDC and public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCs)

The training had 92 participants in attendance including Chief Medical Directors, Managing Directors, and IPC focal persons from private hospitals in FCT and Lagos State. The significant outputs from the training were improved understanding of the need for high index of suspicion among HCWs, particularly for COVID-19; health facilities with clear protocols on triaging for COVID-19 (screening, isolation and notification); and HCWs trained on standard precautions.

The NCDC continues to work closely with the network of IPC focal persons and remains committed to developing structures to protect the health of all Nigerians. HCWs as well as members of the public are advised to continue to exercise good IPC practices especially frequent handwashing, in their day-to-day activities.


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 456 suspected cases, 102 confirmed cases and 13 deaths recorded from 46 LGAs in 18 states

• Four new Healthcare Workers were affected in Edo and Ondo states in the reporting week

Actions

To date:

• Diagnosis of all samples in the five Lassa fever (LF) testing laboratories across the country

• Multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOCs) activated in affected states

• Dissemination of reviewed case management and safe burial practices guidelines

• Deployed surge staff to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Owo

Planned:

• Support states to develop and implement LF response sustainability plan

• Review LF deaths

• Continue harmonisation of laboratory and surveillance data


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

• There were 15 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from 10 LGAs in six states (Cross River – 4, Ebonyi – 1, Kebbi – 1, Sokoto – 1, Katsina – 5 & Zamfara – 3). 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 25 suspected cases of Yellow fever (YF) reported from 23 LGAs in 14 states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date:

• National multiagency YF Technical Working Group (TWG) is coordinating response activities

Planned:

• Continue to harmonise surveillance and laboratory data


Cholera

Key points

• There was one suspected case of cholera reported in Anambra state

Actions

To date

• National cholera multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states

• Finalisation of the 2020 cholera preparedness and response plan

Planned:

• Ensure that reporting states conduct rapid diagnostic test/culture test and send line list of all reported cases to the national level

• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting states

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


Measles

Key points

• There were 871 suspected cases of measles reported from 186 LGAs in 29 states and FCT. There were six laboratory confirmed cases and five deaths were recorded

Actions

To date

• National Measles Technical Working Group (TWG) is closely monitoring surveillance data and response activities across the country

• State surveillance officers followed up and requested to share measles data

Planned:

 Repeat measles Dynamic Risk Assessment

 Intensify follow up with states to update and transmit line list to NCDC


Monkeypox

Key points

• There was no suspected case of monkeypox reported this week

Actions

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

Planned:

• Enhance surveillance for monkeypox in high burden states, working with the animal health colleagues


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

• There were 105 suspected cases of AFP reported from 96 LGAs in 28 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance

Key points

• The subtypes A seasonal H3, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 0(0.0%), 0(0.0%) and 2 (100%) of the total influenza A positive sample respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 0(0.0%), 5(100%) and 0(0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively

• The percentage influenza positive was highest in week 5 with 20%.


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
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

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