Weekly Epidemiological Report

April 2020 Week 17

Editoral

Mid-Action Review of COVID-19 Pandemic Response Activities in Nigeria

Posted: 11-05-2020 07:10:26 PM

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to lead the public health response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Till date, the disease has spread to 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As at 10th of May 2020, there are 4399 confirmed cases and 143 deaths recorded. Following the confirmation of the index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria on the 27th of February, a COVID-19 national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was immediately activated on the 28th of February. Since then, the NCDC has continued to implement measures to control the spread of this disease including the deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to support response activities in affected states. Given the novelty of the virus and level of response initiated, the NCDC convened a review meeting on the 9th of May 2020 to discuss the first 72 days of response.

The goal of the meeting was to review all phases of response activities till date and ensure strategic implementation of our incident action plan in line with current realities. The specific objectives were to review the existing response approach, share lessons learnt and identify key opportunities for improvement and further collaboration. This review was conducted by the national EOC which includes Team members, sister agencies as well as partners. In addition, state RRTs from few selected high burden states also participated in the meeting through virtual arrangement.

Updates provided by the NCDC-led national COVID-19 EOC response pillars highlighted significant improvement in the response so far. This is evident by the timely detection and management of confirmed cases. These improvements have been attributed to various factor including the early deployment of national RRTs (within 24 hours of notification); deployment of surge staff to the overwhelmed states (Lagos, Kano and FCT); use of SORMAS for surveillance and contact tracing activities; scaling up of testing capacity; development of national guidelines across all pillars of response; expansion of COVID-19 treatment centres; and continuous capacity building of health workers across all areas of the response.

Following the meeting, key recommendations were made such as alignment of parallel structures at both national and sub-national levels; roll-out of SORMAS in all states; improve tracking of Incident Action Plans; fast-track development of out-of-hospital care guideline; improve capacity on infection prevention and control; enhance capacity for laboratory testing; increase community engagement etc. The outcomes of this meeting will support the improvement of response activities, drive control and prevention measures for the disease, and guide preparedness for future outbreaks.

As we respond to the pandemic, states are equally encouraged to take ownership of and increase commitment to the response efforts across all pillars of their state EOC. More information on COVID-19 guidelines and resources in Nigeria can be accessed via the NCDC COVID-19 microsite.


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 85 suspected cases, eight confirmed cases and no death was recorded from 38 LGAs in 12 states

Actions

To date:

• National rapid response and surge teams have been deployed from NCDC to support response activities in states

• State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre activated in affected States

• The five Lassa fever molecular laboratories in the NCDC network are working full capacity to ensure that all samples are tested and results provided within the shortest turnaround time

• The NCDC is working to support every state in Nigeria to identify one treatment centre, while supporting existing ones with care, treatment and IPC commodities

• Risk communications and community engagement activities have been scaled up across states using television, radio, print, social media and other strategies


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

There were six suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from two LGAs in two states (Katsina – 5 & Sokoto – 1). 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 18 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 15 LGAs in seven 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:

• Surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation are ongoing


Cholera

Key points

• There were 97 suspected cases of cholera reported in two LGAs in two states (Ebonyi – 87 & Taraba – 10) this week. None was laboratory confirmed and 14 deaths were recorded

Actions

To date

• National cholera multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states and supporting already 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 313 suspected cases of Measles reported from 80 LGAs in 18 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was 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 case of monkeypox reported this 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 47 suspected cases of AFP reported from 39 LGAs in 23 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

• There were 47 suspected cases of AFP reported from 39 LGAs in 23 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Actions

To date:

• National Emergency COVID-19 (LF) multi-partner, multi-sectoral Operations Centre (EOC) activated at level continues to coordinate response activities across states.

• Activated three (3) new laboratories: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH)- Port Harcourt, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH)- Port Harcourt, University of Benin Teaching Hospital PCR (UBTH)- Benin

• Held the COVID-19 National Outbreak Response Mid-action review meeting

• Printed and distributed the mandatory institutional quarantine guideline and NCDC CARE kit for the returnees and evacuees

• National Rapid Response Team continues to support affected states. Surge RRT deployed to support Kano response

• Developed Home care interim guideline for COVID-19 patients

Planned:

• Continue mobilisation of resources

• Continue to establish surge capacities across all response pillars


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 10 with 40%.


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)
  • Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

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