#12,703
As detailed yesterday in Nigeria Investigating Unknown Disease Outbreak In Kogi State, there are confusing and conflicting reports - along with government denials - of an unknown outbreak of a `hemorrhagic' disease in both Kwara and Koji state.
This morning, the Nigerian Tribune is reporting:
Strange disease: Kogi govt denies in death toll
THE Kogi State government has said it was not true that the death toll on the strange disease that broke out in some villages of Yagba west local government area had risen to 62.
The state commissioner for health, Dr Saka Audu, who said this also added that 39 patients were evacuated from the communities to the state specialist hospital, Lokoja.
According to him, out of the 39 patients, only six were admitted as a result of vomiting and stooling, adding that the patients were responding to treatment.
The commissioner disclosed that the epidermic started six weeks ago at Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa all in Yagba West local government area in the western senatorial district of the state.
(Continue . . . )
While it isn't yet clear whether there is a serious outbreak - or what it might be - late yesterday the Nigerian CDC issued the following statement.
18 August 2017 | Abuja –
NIGERIA CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL ADVISES CALM AS IT INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF ‘STRANGE ILLNESS’
Friday, August 18, 2017
On the 17th of August 2017, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Event Based Surveillance (EBS) system detected the news of a strange illness in Kogi State. In addition to this, we had received a report of a strange illness in Kwara State a week before.
Our Surveillance Team immediately contacted the State Epidemiology Teams of both States. Preliminary findings from the States showed that some cases presented with symptoms that fits the case definition of Lassa fever. However, laboratory test came out negative for Lassa fever and tests are now being carried out for other viral diseases in one of our collaborating laboratories.
In Kogi State, the State Epidemiology Team led by the State Commissioner of Health visited towns said to be affected by the strange illness and found five cases with mild illness. The patients were treated and discharged immediately. No other cases/ deaths of unknown illness have been identified. However, samples for routine laboratory investigation have been taken from the sick and results are being awaited.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is supporting Kogi and Kwara States in ongoing investigations and our Rapid Response Team is ready to be deployed as required. We are constantly working with all the State Epidemiologists to ensure the health security of all Nigerians, by developing our laboratory capacity and ability to respond rapidly.
We ask members of the public to continue to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation measures are in place at all times and avoid self-medication. They are also encouraged to report to a health facility immediately if they experience symptoms such as sudden high fever, especially if it does not respond to conventional remedies.
Health workers should ensure universal care precautions while handling patients at all times. If common causes of febrile illnesses are ruled out, health workers should inform the Local Government or State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) and ensure immediate laboratory investigation.
We will continue to work with the States to monitor the current situation and will share new information received, proactively. Our communication channels remain open.
Contacts
NCDC toll-free number: 0800-970000-10
SMS 08099555577
Whatsapp 07087110839.
Twitter/Facebook: @NCDCgov
A hat tip to Ronan Kelly on FluTrackers for posting this statement on their Nigerian Outbreak thread. I'll follow up when more is known, you'll get your most complete day-to-day coverage from the newshounds at FluTrackers.
