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Tag: NCDC

  • Lassa fever: Atiku calls for emergency call desks at health facilities

    Lassa fever: Atiku calls for emergency call desks at health facilities

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised the Federal Government to establish emergency call desks at strategic health facilities to address the rampaging Lassa fever in the country.

    Abubakar in a statement issued by his Media Office on Thursday in Abuja also advised government to ramp up on the sensitisation of the public about the disease.

    “It is equally important that government partners with the private sector and medical research institutions towards ensuring that vaccines are formulated.

    “They should partner to come out with vaccines that can combat and eventually wipe out some perennial diseases inclusive of Lassa fever which recurrence pose a threat to our public health,” he said.

    Abubakar advised that every household should endeavour to be enlightened about the disease and how to prevent it.

    He warned that the fatality figure on the trail of the outbreak of Lassa fever was becoming alarming, as the disease was spreading across states.

    Recent media reports indicated that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 16 fatalities and 107 suspected cases of Lassa fever infection.

    The report also indicated that the disease had spread to 10 states.

    Abubakar, however, sympathised with families who were victims of the outbreak of the disease.

    He expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome the “fangs of the outbreak just like it did with the dreaded Ebola outbreak.

    “The resurgence of the Lassa fever is unfortunate and it is saddening that some families have lost dear ones to the recent outbreak of the disease,” he said.

    Abubakar applauded the efforts of health workers in stemming the scourge of the disease.

    He noted that they were like soldiers waging a war in which unfortunately some died in trying to save the lives of others.

    “Our health workers who are in the front line of viral and microbial attacks are deserving of our support and recognition.”

    He paid tributes to Drs Abel Sunday Udo, Ali Felix and Idowu Ahmed as well other health workers who were infected and died in the course of treating Lassa fever patients in Ebonyi and Kogi states.

  • Cholera: NCDC sends response team to Borno

    Cholera: NCDC sends response team to Borno

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) has deployed a team to support the Borno Ministry of Health to contain a cholera outbreak in some parts of  the state.

    The Chief  Executive Officer of  NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ihekweazu said that following investigations led by the Borno State Ministry of Health with support from the WHO and other partner agencies,  cholera was confirmed by NCDC’s Central Public Health Laboratory in Lagos.

    According to him, the disease is currently affecting six areas in the state with Muna Garage IDP Camp  on the outskirts of the state capital,  Maiduguri,  worst affected.

    He added that the NCDC in collaboration with other partners and humanitarian agencies were working closely to support the state government in curtailing the spread of the outbreak.

    Ihekweazu said that NCDC had deployed a Rapid Response Team to support the State Ministry of Health in coordination, contact identification, tracing and laboratory investigation as well as case management.

    He said that public health measures have been initiated  which include the establishment of a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in the affected camp and surrounding areas.

    Ihekweazu also said that strengthening access to water, sanitation and hygiene were other measures taken to curb the spread of the disease, adding that partners were working together to conduct a cholera vaccination of the state.

    The CEO said that risk communications activities, using both conventional media and door-to-door enlightenment, had  been reinforced.

    He said that 319 suspected cases and 20 deaths had been reported in the state as at Saturday.

    “Cholera is a disease that causes acute watery diarrhea in children and adults.

    “While Cholera is endemic in Nigeria, we find an  increase in the number of cases during the rainy season.

    “The disease is most often spread by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated and is more common in areas with overcrowding as well as  poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

    “Cholera is characterised by sudden onset of severe acute watery diarrhea which can lead to death as a result of dehydration,’’ he said.

    Ihekweazu said that other symptoms of cholera include nausea, vomiting and weakness.

    He, therefore,  urged members of the public to report all sick persons with these signs or symptoms to a health care facility immediately for early initiation of treatment.

    The official also advised health care workers to strongly practise universal care precautions while handling patients at all times.

    “The NCDC urges all states to report cases of cholera immediately, while improving on the timeliness of their reporting generally to prevent widespread outbreaks,’’  Ihekweazu added.

  • Ebola: FG, Lagos seek sanction for Kenya airways 

    Ebola: FG, Lagos seek sanction for Kenya airways 

    The Federal and Lagos State Governments are seeking sanction for Kenya Airways for conveying a dead body from Ebola infested Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, without approval from the necessary bodies.

    This was disclosed Thursday at a joint press conference held in Lagos.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the Kenya airline conveyed the deceased to Nigeria against the extant regulation.

    He said though the corpse tested negative to the deadly Ebola virus, but it was necessary for proper documentation to have been carried out.

    According to him, “The airline brought the remains of this Nigerian without all necessary documentations that are required to process its clearance by the Department of Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health. The Federal Government of Nigeria and relevant agencies condemn this deliberate breach.

    “In line with industry practice, a report has been made to the Nigerian Civil Aviation, the regulatory agency of the Nigerian aviation industry on the occurrence.

    “Necessary steps are being taken by the regulatory authority to sanction the airline in a bid to prevent future occurrence. We have commenced detailed investigation by all relevant agencies of government to determine the immediate and remote intentions of this unfortunate behaviour,” he said.

    Idris emphasized that the Federal Government instituted a ban on the repatriation of human remains into the country in all points of entry as a precautionary measure to avoid importation of any infectious disease, saying that the ban was one of the interventions the nation undertook during the Ebola outbreak.

    He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Port Health Division issued guidelines to all airlines on the procedures to be followed to obtain a waiver before repatriating any human remains into the country.

    “The government will like to reiterate again that the ban is still in force and any attempt to contravene this ban will attract serious sanction. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari takes the health of her citizens seriously and will not shy away from wielding a big stick on any errant individuals or organisation,” Idris said.

    However, the commissioner said as soon as the dead body was brought in from DRC, the officials of Port Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and the Lagos State Ministry of Health investigated the cause of death of the remains and took samples for laboratory investigation.

    Idris said the laboratory report showed that there was no evidence of Ebola infection or any other contagious infections on the corpse, while assuring everyone to go about their normal business without any anxiety.

    “Government will want everyone to be vigilant and encourage all our officials at land, sea and air borders to continue screening of international passengers.

    “Government will want to appeal to all our international passengers to cooperate with our officials who are conducting screening at all our borders. This surveillance shall continue until further notice. All international carriers are also enjoined to cooperate with all relevant agencies of government to ensure unhindered surveillance,” he stated.

    A representative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Joshua Obasanya also said a letter of investigation had been forwarded to Kenya Airline to establish why the airline flew a dead body from DRC into Nigeria without the necessary approval.

    He said if it was found that the airline breached the necessary protocols, it would be sanctioned appropriately, saying that the government was waiting for the airline’s response to the letter.

    Also speaking, Dr. Biodun Ogunniyi, Consultant Epidemiologist, NCDC said there is no fresh outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria, saying that government had the wherewithal to deal with any emergent outbreak.

     

     

  • Fed Govt, NCDC raise plan against Ebola

    Fed Govt, NCDC raise plan against Ebola

    AN Ebola Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) has been set up by the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as a pro-active step in preventing Ebola outbreak.

    The EPWG will lead the coordination of the immediate risk assessment of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and coordinate the strengthening of prevention and preparedness for any potential introduction of the virus into Nigeria.

    The move followed the formal notification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the DRC.

    The setting up of the working group came after a directive by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to the citizenry not to panic given the level of risk of possible transmission of the virus from the Central African country.

    The NCDC convened an emergency meeting with representatives from the Department of Public Health and Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United States (U.S.) Centre for Disease Control, the African Field Epidemiology Network and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, U.S. to guide the country’s preparedness activities.

    The risk of introduction of the Ebola virus into Nigeria is considered to be highest through its air and land borders.

    Therefore, Port Health authorities have been advised to intensify existing screening procedures at ports of entry with first responder teams being put on alert.

    In addition, there will be an increased focus on reinforcing principles of infection prevention and control by healthcare workers.

    Nigeria’s response to Ebola in 2014 was recognised globally for its speed and efficiency.

  • Meningitis death toll hits 745

    Meningitis death toll hits 745

    The death toll from the meningitis outbreak in the country has reached 745 since November 2016.

    According to the update released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday, 8,057 suspected cases of meningitis have been reported across the country so far.

    Of the 8,057 cases, 7,519 (93 per cent) occurred in five states that had reached outbreak levels for Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) serotype C.

    The five affected states are — Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger.

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the NCDC are working assiduously to contain the outbreak.

    Both government agencies noted that they have stepped up their activities.

    These include raising awareness of the outbreak in communities, implementing enhanced surveillance to quickly detect and report new cases, vaccinating populations at the highest risk and treating persons diagnosed with the disease, as well as outbreak preparation in local government areas and states at risk of the outbreak.

     

  • Ebola: India quarantines Nigerian kid, grandfather, one other

    Ebola: India quarantines Nigerian kid, grandfather, one other

    •Lagos trains 800 volunteers in fight against spread

    A four year old Nigerian kid, and two other Nigerians aged 79 and 37 on a visit to India were taken into medical isolation on arrival in New Delhi yesterday for Ebola screening and treatment if required.

    The three Nigerians were admitted at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

     

    The three Nigerians quarantined in India reportedly had fever and their tests were being done at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, according to a statement.

    A 32-year-old Indian from Durg in Chhattisgarh who returned from Nigeria was similarly admitted to a hospital in Bhilai. His samples are also being tested at NCDC, the statement said.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has said air travel, even from Ebola-affected countries, is low-risk for transmission of the disease.

    The organisation has reported a total of 2,127 cases and 1,145 deaths due to Ebola from affected countries.

    The Lagos State government confirmed yesterday its training of 800 volunteers to help fight the deadly Ebola epidemic that has already claimed four lives in the state.

    The state government last week appealed for volunteers to make up for a shortage of medical personnel because of a six-week doctors’ strike over pay.

    “People have heeded our call for service,” Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Babatunde Fashola said.

    “We have trained some 800 volunteers in the area of contact tracing, sensitisation and treatment of the Ebola disease.”

    Apart from the four lives claimed by Ebola in the city, six other people are infected by Ebola.

    Volunteers have so far been deployed to parts of the state, Bello said, adding that more are needed to contain the outbreak, particularly to treat those infected with the disease.

    Nigerian doctors have been on strike nationwide since July 1 to demand a pay rise and better working conditions.

    Nigeria became the fourth West African country to be hit by the Ebola epidemic last month after Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Athletes from Nigeria have been forced to withdraw from the Youth Olympics in China as a result of the outbreak, Chinese state media reported Saturday.

    The International Olympic Committee has barred athletes from Ebola-hit countries from competing in pool events and combat sports.

    The disease is spread by contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids such as sweat, blood and tissue and no cure or vaccine is currently available.

    Nigeria’s first fatality was Liberian government employee Patrick Sawyer, who brought the virus to Lagos on July 20. He died in hospital on July 25.

    Nigeria has not recorded a case outside Lagos but there were fears that a nurse who contracted Ebola from Sawyer at the hospital may have carried the virus to Enugu.