Weekly Epidemiological Report

July 2023 Week 29

Editoral

Heightened efforts in response to the outbreak of Anthrax disease

Posted: 23-05-2024 05:44:54 PM

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, one-health stakeholders and State Ministries to respond to the recently confirmed animal case of anthrax with reported human exposure. Several measures have been put in place to ensure any outbreak of Anthrax in Nigeria is quickly detected, controlled, and contained. These measures include.

• The establishment of the One-Health Anthrax Technical Working Group led by the FMARD to coordinate the national response

• Activation of a National Incident Management System by both FMARD and NCDC.

• Contact tracing of persons and livestock exposed to the index cases.

• Development of an incident action plan (IAP) in the event of a confirmed case in humans.

• Prepositioning of medical countermeasures and consumables such as medications, personal protective equipment (PPEs) etc.

• Propositioning of laboratory consumables for diagnoses.

Though a human case of the disease has not been recorded, members of the public are urged to:

• Exercise caution when buying animals - cows, camels, sheep, goats, and other livestock - from Nigerian states bordering Benin, Chad, and Niger, and from Ghana and Togo via waterways.

• Carefully observe livestock to be slaughtered for consumption or sale for signs of ill health before slaughtering. Do NOT EAT products from sick or dead animals.

• Avoid contact with meat/bush meat or animal by-products such as skin, hides ("kpomo") and milk of a sick or dead animal.

• Do NOT SLAUGHTER sick animals to avoid the risk of inhalation of the bacteria by humans around at the time.

• Hunters SHOULD NOT pick sick or dead animals from the bush or forest to be sold for human consumption.

Anthrax is treatable when reported early. Call the NCDC on our toll-free line (6232) if you notice any of the signs and symptoms associated with anthrax for prompt treatment.


Summary of Incidents

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. CFR for this disease is reported for total cases i.e. suspected + confirmed

4. Information for sentinel influenza was retrieved from the laboratory


Lassa Fever

Key points

? There were 114 suspected cases from eight LGAs in three states. There were nine laboratory confirmed cases and no death was recorded.

Actions

To date:

? Multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOC) activated at the National and affected States.

? Conducted one-day Accelerating Lassa fever Vaccine workshop with CEPI and key stakeholders, experts and policy makers.

? Deactivation of the IMS/EOC.

? Conducted Lassa fever risk assessment.


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

? There were 116 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) reported from 19 LGAs in two states. There were six laboratory confirmed cases and two deaths were recorded.

Actions

To date:

? National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from states and plan appropriately

? Monitoring of epidemiological trend to guide plans for reactive vaccination campaigns,

? Implementation of CSM reactive vaccination campaign in high burden LGAs/Wards in Jigawa state led by NPHCDA


Yellow Fever

Key points

? There were five suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from four LGAs in three states. There was no laboratory confirmed case 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.


Cholera

Key points

? There were 10 suspected cases of Cholera reported from one LGA in Borno. There was one laboratory confirmed case and three deaths were recorded.

Actions

To date

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

? Ongoing surveillance in all states through the routine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and Event Based Surveillance (EBS).

? Continuous construction of sanitation and hygiene facilities with boreholes in cholera hotspots

? Conducted WASH Sector review workshop.


Measles

Key points

? There were 69 suspected cases of Measles reported from 41 LGAs in 17 states. There were two laboratory confirmed cases 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.


Mpox

Key points

? There were 17 suspected cases of Mpox reported from nine LGAs in six states. There was no laboratory confirmed case and no death was reported.

Actions

To date

? National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring activities in all states.


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

? There were 116 suspected cases of AFP reported from 106 LGAs in 27 states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.


National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance


Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Key points

? There were 15 suspected cases of Covid 19 reported from three LGA in Kaduna state and FCT. There were two laboratory confirmed cases and no death was recorded.

Actions

To date:

• Multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOC) activated at the National and affected States

• Engagement meetings with state teams on the ongoing response, Sitrep reporting and Ag-RDT data harmonization, challenges, and way forward.

• Mainstreaming of COVID-19 response activities into routine public health interventions such as surveillance, risk communication, testing etc.


Diphtheria

Key points

? There were 175 suspected cases of Diphtheria reported from 20 LGAs in six states. There were 103 confirmed cases, and 3 deaths were recorded.

Actions

To date

? Multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOC) activated at the National and affected States

? Harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data from across states and laboratories.

? Provision of off-site surveillance support to affected States.

? Conducting data quality checks on surveillance data from affected states


Event Based Surveillance (EBS)

Highlight of the week

  • Summary of Incidents
  • Lassa Fever
  • Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
  • Yellow Fever
  • Cholera
  • Measles
  • Mpox
  • Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
  • National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
  • Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  • Diphtheria
  • Event Based Surveillance (EBS)

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