Weekly Epidemiological Report

June 2021 Week 24

Editoral

Strengthening Diagnostic and Case Management Capacity of States for COVID-19

Posted: 13-07-2021 11:38:28 AM

Over the last one year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has worked closely with relevant Ministries, Departments and Parastatals to respond to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This is aside the leadership and coordination role of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. The NCDC has particularly supported states to strengthen their preparedness and response capacities. In addition to other public health functions such as surveillance, risk communication, points of entry activities, the NCDC has also supported states to strengthen their COVID-19 diagnostic and case management capacity.

The early part of Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 pandemic was confronted by our limited diagnostic and case management capacities. At the onset of the outbreak in 2020, Nigeria had only four molecular laboratories and few Infectious Diseases Care Centres (IDCC). This was grossly insufficient for a population of over 200 million Nigerians. With the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we now have model IDCC for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases as well as a network of over 120 molecular diagnostic laboratories distributed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

With the above interventions, we have been able to avert a significant number of potential cases and deaths from COVID-19. Furthermore, we are continuously gathering daily epidemic intelligence for other epidemic prone diseases. With the pandemic still lingering, the NCDC has continued to provide needed support to the states to strengthen their capacities across diverse areas of response.

As part of these efforts, the NCDC has recently supported the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State with a model IDCC and molecular testing laboratory for COVID-19. This was commissioned by the Honourable Minister of State for Health (HMSH), Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora. Handing over these facilities to the FMC management, the HMSH remarked that the projects were classical examples of the Federal Ministry of Health's untiring efforts to control the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak through provision of affordable healthcare to Nigerians. He also commended the efforts of NCDC and the management of FMC Kebbi for their commitment to see these projects to fruition.

Finally, the Director General of NCDC who was represented by the Director of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response reiterated the commitment of the NCDC to building sustainable structures and strengthening the resilience of our health systems in Kebbi State and the country at large.


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 70 suspected cases, six were laboratory confirmed and two deaths were recorded from six 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 LF five-year strategic plan


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

● There was four suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) reported from three LGAs in two states. Three cases 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


Yellow Fever

Key points

● There were 22 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 15 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.

● Ongoing plans to strengthen orientation of at-risk states on YF surveillance

● Ensured availability of reagents and consumables in all testing laboratories

Planned:

● Continue monitoring and analysis of YF (Yellow fever) data across all states and FCT to guide response

● Continue coordination of prompt transportation samples to the laboratories


Cholera

Key points

● There were 2008 suspected cases of cholera reported from 49 LGAs in five states (Bauchi – 1269, Bayelsa – 3, FCT – 1, Kano – 639 & Plateau – 96). 149 cases were laboratory confirmed and 15 deaths were recorded

Actions

To date

● National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states and supporting affected states

● National Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) with response commodities were deployed to support the response in four states – Benue, Kano, Kaduna and Zamfara States

● 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


Measles

Key points

● There were 480 suspected cases of Measles reported from 67 LGAs in 18 states & FCT. One case was laboratory confirmed 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

● 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


Monkeypox

Key points

● There were four suspected cases of Monkeypox reported from three LGAs in two states (Delta – 2, & Bayelsa – 3). One case was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date

● Enhanced Surveillance ongoing in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States

● 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 84 suspected cases of AFP reported from 70 LGAs in 19 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance


Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Actions

To date:

● National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states

● Concluded plans to conduct hand hygiene improvement and compliance auditing

● Concluded plans to sequence all positive samples among travellers to Nigeria, at the National Reference Laboratory

● Ongoing quarterly commodity monitoring and stock verification exercise to reconcile NCDC data with state data as well as checking the available stock balance and utilization records

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


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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