Attachments
STRENGTHENING COORDINATION DURING OUTBREAK RESPONSE
The Lassa fever outbreak continued in Epi-week 7 with 913 suspected cases reported from across 17 states. Of this, 272 cases have been confirmed positive and 54 deaths recorded giving a case fatality rate (CFR) of 21%.
Since the onset of the outbreak, response activities have been carried out in all affected states and coordinated nationally by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The most critical aspect of an outbreak response is coordination of all activities. For effective coordination during an outbreak, it is important that all key stakeholders are identified and proposed activities are outlined. This provides a basis for better planning resource mobilization and expenditure during the course of the outbreak.
The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) serves as the command centre for all activities during an outbreak. The various pillars of the EOC form the foundation on which the EOC functions. In this current outbreak, the National Lassa fever EOC operates on six major pillars: Coordination, Surveillance/Epidemiology, Case management/Infection Prevention and Control/Safe Burial, Risk Communication, Logistics and supplies and Laboratory. Response activities revolve around these pillars. The members of the EOC are drawn from various Ministries including the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, as well as partner agencies.
As the outbreak continues with more states reporting confirmed cases, the NCDC encourages all states to set up state-level EOC for proper and better management of response activities. NCDC Rapid Response Teams in Ebonyi, Ondo and Edo have supported the establishment of State-level EOCs and is willing to provide technical guidance to all States.
SUMMARY OF REPORTS
In the reporting week ending on February 11, 2018:
-
There were 154 new cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) reported. None was confirmed as Polio. The last reported case of Polio in Nigeria was in August 2016. Active case search for AFP is being intensified as Nigeria has reinvigorated its efforts at eradicating Polio.
-
12 suspected cases of Cholera were reported from five LGAs in three States (Kaduna – 5, Kano - 5 & Katsina – 2). Of these, none was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
-
87 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported from 35 LGAs in 12 States (Bauchi – 4, Ebonyi – 20, Edo – 16, FCT- 2, Gombe – 3, Kaduna – 3, Kebbi – 1, Kogi - 4, Ondo – 23, Oyo – 1, Plateau – 3 & Taraba - 7). 31 were laboratory confirmed and six deaths were recorded. o There were 87-suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from 41 LGAs in 16 States (Adamawa – 2, Bauchi – 2, Borno – 5, Ebonyi – 1, FCT – 2, Gombe - 4, Jigawa – 1, Kaduna – 1, Katsina - 18, Kebbi – 5, Nasarawa – 1, Oyo – 1, Sokoto – 4, Taraba – 2, Yobe - 5 & Zamfara - 33). Of these, none was laboratory confirmed and three deaths were recorded. Ongoing surveillance for CSM has been intensified in all the 26 States in the Nigeria meningitis belt and case-based surveillance commenced on 4th December 2017
-
There were 434- suspected cases of Measles reported from 35 States. None was laboratory confirmed and four deaths were recorded.
In the reporting week, all States sent in their report except Cross River State. Timeliness of reporting decreases from 92% in previous week to 90% in the current week (week 5 & 6, 2018) while completeness remained 100% at same period. It is very important for all States to ensure timely and complete reporting at all times, especially during an outbreak.