Panic in Nigeria as Another Deadly Virus Strikes After COVID-19 (Details below)

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states have reported confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza H5N1, also called “Bird flu”.

NCDC Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, announced this on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, while giving highlights of the epidemiological situation and response activities in Nigeria.

NAN reports that Avian Influenza has strains of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds but can also infect humans.

This type of flu is most often contracted by contact with sick birds, and can also be passed from person to person. It spreads by airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).

Symptoms begin within two to eight days, and are like the common flu. Cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and shortness of breath may occur.

Ihekweazu said as of March 24, 2021, the seven states reported outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases (H5N1) in poultries.

The NCDC boss said official notification about the outbreak had been conveyed to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR).

Also, the national multi-agency cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) at the NCDC is monitoring situation in eight states where there are reports of suspected cholera cases.

Dr. Ihekweazu said this yesterday in an interview with NAN in Abuja while giving an update for cholera cases in the country.

The NCDC boss said as at March, Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto and Nasarawa states had reported suspected cholera cases.

“As of March 28, a total of 1,746 suspected cases, including 50 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR), that is 2.9 per cent, have been reported from Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto and Nasarawa states.

“Of the confirmed cases, 63.2 per cent were aged five to 14 years. Also, of the suspected cases, 48 per cent were females and 52 per cent were males,” he said.

The Director General said there had been a gradual increase in the number of new cases in the last two weeks.

“Zamfara State accounts for about 100 per cent of cases reported in the last two weeks. A total of 75 samples were collected out of which 49 tested positive.

“The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) for laboratory confirmation by culture is 14.7 per cent,” he said.

Dr. Ihekweazu added: “Most people infected with cholera do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for one to 10 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.

“Among people who develop symptoms, the majority have mild or moderate symptoms, while a minority develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated?”

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