With over a year since the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to lead the national public health response to ensure Nigerians are protected from the virus. Aside significant control of local transmission, one of the key areas of priority is institution of public health measures to prevent further importation and exportation of the virus.
In addition to the already established and widely expanded network of public health laboratories, the NCDC has also optimised testing through enrolment and operationalisation of private testing laboratories for increased accessibility. This initiative has resulted in scaled up testing nationwide and an efficient process in testing inbound and outbound travellers as they are mandated to test via private facilities. This is in line with the national mandatory quarantine protocols and procedures.
While the above intervention has tremendously reduced the number of likely importation and exportation of cases, however, trading and presentation of fake results at departure and arrival by some elements in some of our international airports was recently a challenge. This poses significant danger particularly to travellers with genuine negative results thereby resulting in further risk of exportation or importation of the disease.
To address the above and to consolidate on the gains made, the Presidential Task Force through the NCDC and Ports Health Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Health recently launched a result verification system. It is aimed to validate the authenticity of COVID-19 results with the following objectives:
1. Build a platform for the verification of COVID-19 results
2. Effectively manage and monitor the network of private laboratories testing for COVID-19
3. Get accurate and prompt testing data from private labs testing for COVID-19
4. Improve quality and efficiency of the laboratory testing network through analysing data generated from this Information system
An important outcome was trained staff of the airlines and of all five international airports with capacity to verify results from outbound travelers via “QR Code and USSD†built on result verifications system. This is in line with our mandate of ensuring national and by extension global health security through prevention of importation and exportation of the virus.
The NCDC will continue to employ evidence-based public health strategies and initiatives aimed at protecting Nigerians against COVID-19 and other epidemic-prone diseases. We urge the public to ensure strict compliance with all recommended COVID-19 protocols including travel guidelines.
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
Key points
• There were 84 suspected cases, seven were laboratory confirmed and three deaths were recorded from five LGAs in two states
Actions
To date:
• Conducted 2021 Lassa fever(LF) high burden states preparedness/response engagement meeting
• Dissemination of reviewed case management and safe burial practices guidelines
• Ensured all five LF molecular laboratories in the NCDC network are working at full capacity for timely testing of samples with reduced turnaround time
Planned:
• Finalise Lassa fever five-year strategic plan
Key points
• There were ten suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from six LGAs in five states (Cross River – 1, Katsina – 2, Osun – 1, Oyo – 5 & Plateau – 1). None were 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
Key points
• There were 16 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 13 LGAs in 9 states. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National YF multi-partner Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate activities across states.
• Daily monitoring and analysis of surveillance data across the country to guide response activities
Planned:
• Continue supporting affected states across all pillars of response
• Continue harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data ongoing
Key points
• There were 19 suspected cases of cholera reported from three LGAs in two states (Bayelsa – 10 & Kogi – 9). One case 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
• Developed the 2021 Annual Cholera Preparedness and Response Workplan
• Cholera jingles being aired in English and local languages across the country
Planned:
• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting states
• Build capacity for sample collection, transportation, and laboratory diagnosis across states
Key points
• There were 271 suspected cases of measles reported from 73 LGAs in 20 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed 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
• Ongoing weekly surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation
Planned:
• Intensify follow up with states to update and transmit line list
• Continue monthly measles surveillance data review
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
Key points
• There were 51 suspected cases of AFP reported from 47 LGAs in 24 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• A multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate the response
• All seven human positive samples have been shipped to WHO coordinating centre for further lab analysis
• National RRT were deployed to all affected states
Planned:
• Continue to intensify surveillance activities and monitor contacts across the country
• Conduct risk assessment at the national level
Actions
To date:
• National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states
• Deployed a National Rapid Response Team to support the National Sports Festival in Edo State
• Trained National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) focal persons on infection prevention and control (IPC)
• Currently supporting monitoring and supervision of vaccination activities across states
Planned:
• Deploy antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) kits and sample collection materials to the selected states
• Intensify genomic surveillance activities
• Conduct WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) assessment across all health facilities
• Finalise Local Government Area (LGA)/State transmission categorisation
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