By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Nigeria is experiencing its share of COVID-19 catastrophe as it recorded 266,463 confirmed cases and 3,155 deaths in 36 states including the FCT in the last 28 days amid global surge.
This is coming as the global COVID- 19 curve continues to rise with attendant deaths in countries like Japan, USA, and the Republic of Korea,
The was revealed by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, COVID-19 in it’s epidemiology global and regional update.
The disease agency also said it has continued with its national genomic surveillance efforts as a way of containing the global outbreaks of SAR-CoV-2 variants.
The agency, however, disclosed that the sub-lineages like lol XBB.1.5 partly responsible for the current increase in COVID-19 cases in the US and elsewhere countries have not yet been detected in Nigeria.
The variants reported in China so far have been those circulating globally, including in Nigeria for some time, NCDC said.
Meanwhile, the agency also disclosed that states like Kano, Lagos , Yobe and Osun have reported outbreak of Diphtheria with mortalities.
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NCDC said that there have been laboratory confirmed cases, and it is partnering with State Ministry of Health and others to enhance surveillance and response to the outbreak in affected states.
To reduce the risk of diphtheria, the NCDC has published a public health advisory, accessible on our website, which educates Nigerians on risk factors and offers advice.
The public health advisory includes
parents ensuring that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with 3 doses of the pentavalent vaccine.
Healthcare workers should maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria
Individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria should isolate themselves and notify the LGA, DSNO or the NCDC through our toll-free line (6232).
