The federal government has warned Nigerians about an increase in Cerebrospinal Meningitis infections in Jigawa state. It stated that preliminary reports indicated 117 suspected cases and 12 verified cases as of yesterday. The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetiba, stated at the bi-monthly Ministerial Press briefing organized by the Federal Ministry in Abuja that the Centre has sent a National Response Team to bolster Jigawa state’s response to the epidemic. He also stated that the state has received supplies to combat the sickness spread.
Dr. Prescilla Ibekwe, Director of Special Services at the NCDC, stated they are aware of an increase in suspected CSM cases in Jigawa state. Preliminary data show 117 suspected and 12 confirmed cases, with a CFR of 27% from epidemic weeks 49 and 2 of 2023. To assist Jigawa State’s response to the outbreak, the NCDC has dispatched a nationwide RRT. We also provided consumables. However, given to Jigawa’s proximity to Yobe and Katsina States, we have also deployed RRT personnel to Yobe and Katsina States to assess, refine, and perform active CSM case finding for early detection if instances already exist.
The centre has written to ensure necessary public health measures.
Due to this, the NCDC also provided updates on the spread of diphtheria, stating that the number of infections has been increasing across the country. It stated that an increase in Diphtheria, a deadly bacterial infection that affects an individual’s nose, throat, and sometimes skin, has been seen in the country, with attendant fatalities. He stated that Nigeria worked with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to organize a 5-day training course in Nigeria for laboratory scientists working in NCDC’s National Reference Laboratories and its lab network on improving laboratory detection of diphtheria (this was planned before cases were reported as part of preparedness).
In the same vein, the NCDC director stated that the Centre has written to all state Health Commissioners requesting that they implement prompt and required public health measures for the timely detection and response to diphtheria at the state level. The NCDC stated that it produced a public health alert, which is accessible on our website, to educate Nigerians on risk factors and offer guidance, including: It asked parents to verify that their children have had three doses of the pentavalent vaccination and are completely vaccinated against diphtheria.
Individuals with symptoms should isolate themselves and notify the LGA.
Individuals with diphtheria symptoms should isolate themselves and contact the LGA, DSNO, or NCDC via our toll-free number (6232). Diphtheria cases have been reported to the NCDC from Kano, Lagos, Yobe, and Osun States, according to the NCDC. It added that, in addition to clinically suspected cases, laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported, and that the NCDC was working with state Ministries of Health and partners to improve surveillance and response to the epidemic.
While providing an update on COVID-19 vaccination coverage, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), stated, “As of 20th January, 2023, Nigeria has fully vaccinated 65,176,784 (56.2%) eligible persons with the vaccine; while 77,070,988 (66.4%) eligible persons have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.” Shuaib, who was represented by Dr. Garba Bulama, stated that a total of 10,390,911 people received booster shots. He stated that the number of people obtaining booster shots was gradually increasing. According to Shuaib, 13 states have vaccinated at least 70% of their eligible population.
States that have participated in the Covid-19 vaccination.
Nasarawa, Jigawa, Kaduna, Osun, Kano, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Kwara, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe are among these states. Seven states (Zamfara, Imo, Oyo, Borno, Niger, Enugu, and Bauchi) and the federal capital territory have attained coverage rates ranging from 40% to 70%. Katsina, Cross River, Ogun, Abia, Anambra, Benue, Edo, Lagos, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers, and Ondo are among the remaining 16 low-performing states with less than 40% coverage, according to him.
Related Link
NCDC: Website
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