Weekly Epidemiological Report

March 2020 Week 10

Editoral

COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness: NCDC Supports States to Develop Pre-Incident Action Plan

Posted: 23-03-2020 10:20:19 PM

Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Nigeria on the 27th of February 2020, the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to employ diverse strategies to control the spread of the disease. As of the 23rd of March, 36 cases have been reported in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Oyo and Ekiti states. The gradual increase in the number of states affected by COVID-19 makes it more pertinent to strengthen state-level preparedness and response for the disease.

In addition to establishing treatment centres and molecular laboratories for testing, there is need to also build the capacity of states’ public health workforce for COVID-19. In line with this, the NCDC in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a COVID-19 States Preparedness and Readiness Workshop in two phases.

The first workshop was conducted from 18th - 20th March 2020. This included participants (State Epidemiologists, DSNOs and WHO State Coordinators) from Akwa Ibom, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Cross River, Borno, Edo, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Rivers, Yobe, Ogun and Lagos states. The next phase will accommodate participants from the remaining states.

The objectives of the workshop are to:

1. Ensure States use the Incident Management Systems (IMS) to respond to COVID-19 outbreak

2. Support states to develop their pre-Incident Action Plan (IAP) for COVID-19

3. Ensure states have effective risk communication mechanisms in place

An important outcome following the workshop was the development of the pre-IAP by all participants in attendance. The aim is to share this pre-IAP with their respective State Governments towards prompt establishment of structures and measures for enhanced state-level COVID-19 preparedness and response. We strongly urge all States Governments to expedite mobilisation of resources for the implementation of this pre-Incident Action Plan.

The NCDC will continue to support States to put in place measures to strengthen them for their 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 387 suspected cases, 81 confirmed cases and 10 deaths recorded from 34 LGAs in 28 states and FCT

• Two new healthcare workers were infected in Edo and Bauchi states

Actions

To date:

• National Lassa fever (LF) multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels

• Multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOC) activated in affected states

• Enhanced surveillance (contact tracing and active case finding) in affected states

• Cross border collaboration with Benin Republic on newly reported Lassa fever cases

Planned:

• Continue mobilisation of resources

• Finalise the LF five-year Strategic plan

• In-depth investigation of healthcare worker infections

• Operationalise LGA sanitation desks by Environmental Health Officers in all states


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

There were 13 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from eight LGAs in five states (Adamawa – 2, Bauchi – 1, Ebonyi – 3, Katsina – 3 & Plateau – 4). 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

• 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


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

There were 13 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from eight LGAs in five states (Adamawa – 2, Bauchi – 1, Ebonyi – 3, Katsina – 3 & Plateau – 4). 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

• 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 27 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 22 LGAs in 10 states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date:

• National multiagency YF Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate response activities

Planned:

• Continue surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation


Cholera

Key points

• There was no suspected case of cholera reported this week

Actions

To date

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

• Development of the 2020 cholera preparedness and response plan ongoing

• Training of water resources laboratories personnel across the six (6) geopolitical zones on Vibrio cholerae isolation from environmental samples (ongoing)

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

• Working with states to increase diagnostic testing rate


Measles

Key points

• There were 921 suspected cases of measles reported from 199 LGAs in 26 states and FCT.

• There was no laboratory confirmed case and five (5) deaths were recorded

Actions

To date

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

Planned:

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

• Continue the review of measles surveillance data across the country

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


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

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

• There were 85 suspected cases of AFP reported from 78 LGAs in 29 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%), 2(9.5%) and 19 (90.5%) of the total influenza A positive samples respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 0(0.0%), 8(100%) and 0(0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively.

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


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

Highlight of the week

  • Summary of Incidents
  • Lassa Fever
  • Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
  • 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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