Mrs Chioma Dan-Nwafor, the Technical Lead for Lassa fever at the NCDC, disclosed this to our reporter on Monday in Abuja.

Dan-Nwafor, who gave an update on the recent outbreak of the disease, said that much attention was still being paid to other emergencies in spite of the global damage by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that the death toll from Lassa fever had risen to 230 as confirmed cases jumped with a cumulative Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 20.6 per cent from week 1 to 42 of 2020.

She explained that as at week 42 of 2020, the country had recorded a total of 1,116 confirmed cases as against 739 confirmed cases recorded in the same period in 2019.

According to her, the number of new confirmed cases in week 42 increased from five in week 41, 2020 to 13 cases.

“These cases were reported from three States – Ondo, Edo and Delta.

The official said that 27 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 130 Local Government Areas in the country.

“Of all confirmed cases, 74 per cent are from Ondo, 32 per cent from Edo, while Ebonyi accounted for 7 per cent. The predominant age-group affected is 21-30 years.

“The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9. The number of suspected cases has significantly increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2019.

“One new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 42,” she explained.

According to Dan-Nwafor, the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG), has continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

“Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria with outbreaks occurring every year but more common during dry seasons.

“The NCDC continues to support all states in the preparedness and response to the disease. Risk communications and community engagement activities have been scaled up across states using television, radio, print, social media and other strategies,” she said.

Dan-Nwafor explained that Lassa fever was a disease spread to humans through food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

“At least 80 percent of infected people are asymptomatic or show mild symptoms and are undiagnosed. The symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, mouth ulcers, muscle aches, bleeding from body openings as well as heart and kidney failure.

“It has an incubation period of between six and 21 days and can be transmitted through contact with an infected person via bodily fluids and excretion,” she said.

She advised Nigerians to continue to maintain personal hygiene, store grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, and dispose of garbage properly to avoid attracting rodents to households.

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Mrs Elsie Ilori, the Head of Department, Surveillance and Epidemiology Department, NCDC, said this on Monday in Abuja at the joint Presidential Tasks Force Briefing on COVID-19.

Our correspondent reports that the Federal Government has disclosed that NYSC orientation camps will reopen on Nov. 10, 2020.

Ilori said that the agency was working with the NYSC to ensure the safety of our youth and communities as they resume activities across the country in various camps.

Ilori said that COVID-19 had caused a lot of disruptions in most of the country’s activities and no one anticipated that this would happen.

“We had all planned and made preparations, our young ones had planned but unfortunately it did not happen because of COVID-19 which came and disrupted most things.

“We have been working with the Ministry of Youths and Sports through the NYSC to put in place and strengthen the infection, prevention and control capacity of the NYSC camps.

“Beyond this, we are going to support the NYSC camps with authorities to ensure prompt identification of COVID-19 cases for treatment,” she said.

She said that the key measure NCDC put in place was the use of Rapid Diagnosis test for screening corps members as they arrive in camp.

She noted that the tests were approved for use in specific settings by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and it would be beneficial for the identification of COVID-19 cases for treatment given their high sensitivity and specificity.

“We’ve also a self-reporting form the Corps members will fill before they go to camps.

“The form will enable them to give their details ahead of resumption and this will give us a seamless process for sample collection.

“Every Corps member must fill this form before resuming. It is online.

“To make the process easier we are going to provide step-by-step guide on how to go about this as well as the guideline to stay safe while in camp.

“All of this we are doing in collaboration with the NYSC officials.

“Each NYSC camp will have what is known as the IPC Vanguards; they will help to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 preventive measures to significantly lower the risk of infection,” she explained.

She disclosed that the agency would also be using NYSC communication channels including the NYSC radio stations to amplify the efforts in each state as well as to sensitive the public and the NSYC community to what was being done.

“Last week, we carried out the risk assessment for the camp in Abuja and that has helped us to look at the gaps and guidelines we have set up.

“And that has helped to find risk assessment tools and this will be rolled out across the country this week.

“This tool will be used by states’ NYSC and surveillance teams to evaluate the potential risks,” she noted.

She, however, asked for co-operation by all Corps members and adherence to IPC measures for their safety and those of their loved ones.

“To ensure the safe reopening of camps, it is important that we work collectively; of course the government cannot do it alone.

“It is a collective measure and collective action. We have to exercise collective responsibility,” she said.

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It was reported that the PTF briefed the president on the second phase of the gradual easing of lockdown announced four weeks ago, to check the spread of the deadly virus.

It was reported that Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was accompanied by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu.

The Director General of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, was also in attendance of the meeting with the president.

Mustapha is expected later today to brief the press on the possible review of the existing ease of lockdown measures across the country.

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The Director General of the center, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, stated this on Monday when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje at the Government House, Kano.

Ihekweazu said NCDC was working assiduously in ensuring that the challenge of COVID-19 was contained nationwide.

He said that his team was in Kano to assess the situation on ground and measures embarked by the state government to address the pandemic.

The NCDC boss explained that the rate at which the virus was on the increase in some states of the federation was very alarming, hence collective efforts needed to be in place in ensuring that the pandemic was addressed.

“I want to commend the state governments level of preparedness, especially in provision of well equipped isolation centers,” he said.

According to him, NCDC will design modalities of supporting Kano State to overcome the spread of the virus in the state.

He called on health workers to remain on high alert, while urging Nigerians to take the basic protective measures against COVID-19.

Ihekweazu added that NCDC was set up for situations like this and had built its capacity for emergency response.

He promised that the center would continue to work round the clock with relevant agencies in the country to contain the pandemic.

In a remark, Gov. Ganduje said his administration had provided three modern isolation centers equipped with latest technology expected of isolation centers.
Ganduje appealed to the Federal Government to provide additional testing centers, funds and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

He however, urged Nigerians to discontinue the spread of false and unverified information.

The governor also called on the people of the state to wash their hands frequently and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, while practicing personal hygiene.

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Our correspondent reports that latest figure brings the total number of confirmed cases to 627.

NCDC, through its verified Twitter account on Sunday, disclosed that the 86 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from seven states, 70 in Lagos, seven in FCT, three each in Katsina and Akwa Ibom, one each in Jigawa, Bauchi and Borno States.

The agency said that Nigeria had 436 active cases as at 11;50 p.m of April 19, 170 discharged so far, while 21 deaths had been recorded.

The breakdown of cases by state is: Lagos- 376, FCT- 88, Kano- 36, Osun- 20, Oyo- 16, Edo- 15, Ogun- 12, Kwara- 9, Katsina- 12, Bauchi- seven, Kaduna- six, Akwa Ibom- nine, Delta- four, Ekiti – three, Ondo – three, Enugu, Rivers, Niger and Jigawa have two each, while Borno, Benue and Anambra have one each.

NCDC said that one case previously reported in Kano had been transferred to Jigawa State.

“Therefore, the total number of confirmed cases in Kano is 36 as at April 19,” the NCDC said.

It was reported that FCT, Lagos and Ogun States have been locked down to prevent the spread of the virus as only essential services, including food and medicines are allowed til April 26.

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Ihekweazu made this known to our reporter on Thursday in Abuja, while giving an update on COVID-19 in the country.

According to him, it is followed by Abuja with 12 cases, Ogun-three, while Ekiti, Oyo, Edo, Bauchi, Osun and Rivers have one case each.

Ihekweazu said that most of the cases reported were from travellers who have just returned to the country.

“Other cases were from people who have come in contact with infected persons,” he said.

Recall that some senior government officials had tested positive, while others have been in self-isolation.

The positive cases include the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the Permanent Secretary, Mashi Abdulaziz Mashi, have tested negative to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19).

Earlier, the NCDC had confirmed 14 new cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19), as the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 65.

Ihekweazu had disclosed that the 14 new cases of COVID19, were confirmed from Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The 14 new cases of COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: two in FCT, and 12 in Lagos State.

“As at 7:35p.m, March 26, there are 65 confirmed cases, three discharged and one death of COVID19 pandemic in the country,” he said.

NCDC said that of the 14 cases, six were detected on a vessel, while three were returning travellers into Nigeria and one was a close contact of a previously confirmed case.

It was reported that NCDC had launched a Coronavirus Service on WhatsApp.

The Coronavirus Information Service is a 24/7 automated ‘chatbot’ service.

It will provide Nigerians with answers to the most common questions on COVID-19, directly from the NCDC, across thematic areas such as public health advisories, frequently asked questions and myth busters.

This service allows for two-way conversations on WhatsApp.

The NCDC can send urgent and real-time messages to all Nigerians who opt in to the service, while Nigerians can also engage directly with an NCDC connect centre agent to share or get more information.

All WhatsApp users can access the free information by simply adding the number:+234-708-711-0839 to their phone contacts.

To get started, users can text any key word for example, “Hi” to the number through WhatsApp chat which prompts a list of options.

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