• 663 million cases, 6.7 million deaths confirmed globally
• NCDC emphasizes vaccination key to prevent disease, hospitalization, death
Nigeria is on high alert amid global concerns over the new strain of COVID-19.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), yesterday, at a press conference in Abuja, said that over 663 million confirmed cases and over 6.7 million deaths have been reported globally.
Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said: “Globally, more than three million new cases and ten thousand deaths have been reported in the week of December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023. This represents a weekly reduction in cases and deaths. of 22 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
“The African region reported a 73 percent and 32 percent decrease in new cases and deaths compared to the previous week.
“In the Americas and the Western Pacific (including China), there was an increase of 74 percent and 29 percent of cases and an increase of 49 percent and 35 percent of deaths. The increase in these countries is, in part, a component of the exacerbation of winter respiratory diseases.
Adetifa said the resurgence of COVID-19 in China, following the relaxation of the country’s zero-COVID policy and the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, also drew attention to the possibility of a new variant emerging.
He said that the variants available in China are mainly BA.5.2 and Bf.7. According to him, the variant has spread to other regions, including Nigeria, from 2022.
The Omicron sub-variant, XBB.1.5, which was first detected in New York in October 2022 is also increasing in the US and Europe and has now been identified in more than 25 countries. XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible form of Omicron but it is not clear if it is more virulent than its predecessor.
The epidemiologist noted that in Nigeria, the NCDC has 5,708,974 samples tested, 266,463 confirmed cases, 259,850 cases disposed of and unfortunately 3,155 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said that COVID-19 has and continues to follow a different epidemiological course in Nigeria and most of Africa, with fewer cases, admissions, and deaths from the Omicron sub-lineage.
In an effort to contain the current threat, he said: “The NCDC-led Emergency Operations Center for COVID-19 (EOC) is monitoring the rise of the new Omicron sub-lineage, XBB.1.5, in the UK and the US, and the current resurgence in China and other countries with volumes traffic to and from Nigeria.
“The sub-lineages that are partially responsible for the current increase in cases of COVID-19 in other countries (XBB. 1.5 and BF.7), have not been detected in these countries since November 2022. We are working to complete the tests and analysis. in December 2022.
“Since the detection of the Omicron variant in December 2021, the sub-lineage (BQ.1 / BQ.1.1) has been dominant in Nigeria.
“It is important to note that regardless of the variant of COVID-19 in different regions of the world, severe illness, admissions and deaths disproportionately affect the unvaccinated and those with established risk factors, namely, the elderly, people with co-morbidities – morbid.
“The most important action for Nigerians is to get vaccinated against COVID-19, because the vaccine is the most important intervention to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
“In addition, although the protocols and restrictions of COVID-19 have been simplified, people at high risk for COVID-19 are advised to adhere to the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), such as the use of face masks, good hand and respiratory hygiene and avoiding crowded place.”
On other infectious diseases, he said: “We continue to respond to infectious diseases, including Lassa fever, Mpox, etc. So far, there are 8,202 suspected cases and 1,067 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 27 states and 112 council areas.
“Cumulatively, from Week 1 to Week 52, 2022, 189 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (FR) of 17.7 percent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0 percent). 72 percent of all Lassa fever cases that confirmed in 2022 reported from three states (Ondo, Edo and Bauchi).
“Most recently, NCDC, in collaboration with partners, federal and state stakeholders of the Technical Working Group (TWG), successfully carried out the finalization and validation of a five-year strategic plan to reduce the fatality ratio of Lassa fever in the country to less than ten percent.
“We are constantly urging Nigerians to practice personal and environmental hygiene to prevent rat infestation in their homes and communities, especially this dry season, which is when we usually record more cases of Lassa fever.”