The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control  has said it has activated a  national Emergency Operation Centre in response to the outbreak of yellow fever in some parts of the country. The Director General of the centre, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, last week confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Katsina State, saying they were working with the state government to tackle thechallenge.

 

He said out of the 46 samples that were collected,  13 cases were confirmed, with five deaths recorded. The agency stated in its weekly epidemiological report on Wednesday  that since August 1, Nigeria recorded an increase in the number of yellow fever cases in Katsina, Bauchi and Benue states.

It said, “This was followed by immediate deployment of Rapid Response Team to support response activities in the three affected states. The EOC has representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, National

 

Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners like the World Health Organisation, US Centres for Disease Control, United. Nations Children’s Fund, African Field Epidemiology Network and Georgetown University.”

 

The NCDC said  in line with the Eliminating Yellow Fever Epidemicsstrategy, the international partners, it, in collaboration with  the  NPHCDA, had  focused on strong coordination of laboratories  providing laboratory confirmation, rapid deployment of Rapid Response Team for immediate investigation of confirmed cases and  preventive mass vaccination campaign.

 

It implored the public  to approach the relevant health agencies for the yellow fever vaccine. It said, “Yellow fever is a completely vaccine preventable disease and a single shot of the vaccine protects for a lifetime.”

 

On the spread and management of cholera, the centre said  there were 25 suspected cases in Abia, Adamawa, Borno, and Lagos states. Borno has the highest with 16 cases. In all the states, seven cases were confirmed after laboratory test.

 

The NCDC said  the national cholera multisectoral Technical Working Group was monitoring all states and supporting  affected states. On Lassa fever, the agency said  one death was recorded in Edo State, while 92 suspected cases were reported in 12 other states and the FCT.