NCDC has published its Weekly Epidemiological Reports, Week 25.
PRIORITISING NIGERIA’S LASSA FEVER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROAD-MAP
Between January and May 2018, Nigeria experienced its largest reported outbreak of Lassa fever. In responding to the outbreak, critical questions were raised concerning the disease for which answers were either not readily available or required additional validation.
In this regard, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has taken a leadership role to build a Research and Development (R&D) roadmap for Lassa fever in Nigeria.
To bring the roadmap into reality, a National Lassa fever R&D Stakeholders meeting was convened between the 3rd and 4th of July 2018 in Abuja. The participants at this meeting included case management physicians from the various Lassa fever treatment centres, local and international researchers, partners including the World Health Organization and the host, NCDC.
The meeting was aimed at identifying the key research areas for Lassa fever, developing research objectives and plans for each area and engaging partners for research implementation. The main areas of research cut across epidemiology of Lassa fever, case management, vector transmission, laboratory diagnosis and risk communications.
The next few weeks will involve finalising the plans and mapping out resources for the research.
The outcomes of these activities will help define the landscape with improved knowledge about Lassa fever, guide preparedness and response activities for future outbreaks and drive control/prevention measures for the disease.
SUMMARY OF REPORTS
In the reporting week ending on June 24, 2018:
o There were 125 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.
o 828 suspected cases of Cholera were reported from 34 LGAs in 12 States (Adamawa – 29, Bauchi – 183, Borno – 27, FCT – 2, Gombe – 41, Jigawa – 13, Kaduna – 11, Kano – 110, Katsina – 45, Kogi – 4, Plateau - 24 & Zamfara - 339). Of these, nine were laboratory confirmed and nine deaths were recorded.
o 24 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported from nine LGAs in six States (Adamawa – 1, Edo – 9, Gombe – 1, Ondo – 8, Osun - 2 & Plateau – 2). Six were laboratory confirmed and two deaths were recorded.
o There were 16 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from 12 LGAs in eight States (Abia -1, Ebonyi – 1, Gombe – 1, Kaduna – 4, Katsina – 4, Oyo – 1, Taraba – 2 & Yobe - 2). Of these, two were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
o There were 222 suspected cases of Measles reported from 33 States. No laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
In the reporting week, all States sent in their report except Taraba State. Timeliness of reporting remains 89% in both the previous and current weeks (week 24 & 25) while completeness also remains 99% at same period. It is very important for all States to ensure timely and complete reporting at all times, especially during an outbreak.
