COVID-19 infections rise by 231.5% in one month

COVID-19 infections have reportedly risen by 231.5 per cent within one month in the country.

Epidemiological data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control showed that from May 28 to June 29, a total of 1,262 cases were reported.

But from June 30 to August 1, the cases took a new surge as 4,183 cases were reported, indicating an increase of 2,921 (231.5 per cent).

The country now has 261,473 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 3,147 deaths. The total recoveries in the country have now increased to 254,953.

The NCDC confirmed in its latest biweekly epidemiological report that in the last 10 weeks, the test positivity ratio had continued to increase with the majority of cases reported from Lagos, FCT, Rivers, and Kano states.

The NCDC, however, noted that there was a drop in the testing rate as reports for weeks 27 and 28 showed that the number of samples tested decreased to 24,411 from 35,063 reported in weeks 25 and 26.

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Meanwhile, only 27,528,710 Nigerians representing 24.6 per cent of the total eligible population targeted for COVID-19 vaccination have been fully vaccinated, while 11,768,202 have been partially vaccinated representing only 10.5 percent of the total eligible population, according to official data by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, told our correspondent that the agency’s surveillance system continued to record a gradual increase in COVID-19 cases across the country.

“This is a reminder of the prevailing risk we face and the need for continued adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the use of face masks in closed gatherings, physical distancing, and regular hand washing.

“These should be done in addition to taking the vaccines which have been proven to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” he said.

 Yellow fever cases

Similarly, the NCDC has reported a total of 1,005 suspected cases of yellow fever from 36 states, including the FCT in 390 local government areas.

The cases were reported from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.

According to the situation report, Borno State is leading with 88 cases, followed by Anambra State with 75 cases.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and approximately half of those die within 7 to 10 days.

The report read in part, “The cases were reported from the following states: Abia (28), Adamawa (18), Akwa Ibom(8), Anambra (75), Bauchi (34), Bayelsa (13), Benue (15), Borno (88), Cross River (20), Delta(5), Ebonyi (25), Edo (11), Ekiti (18), Enugu (43), FCT (5), Gombe (14), Imo (38), Jigawa(71), Kaduna (8), Kano (4), Katsina (67), Kebbi (21), Kogi (12), Kwara (21), Lagos(4), Nasarawa(23), Niger (25), Ogun (22), Ondo (55), Osun (18), Oyo (60), Plateau (34), Rivers(22), Sokoto(16), Taraba (27), Yobe (24), Zamfara (13).

“Total of six presumptive positive and four inconclusive results were recorded from the Nigeria Laboratory network.

“These presumptive positives were from UBTH Benin (2), MDH Abuja (1), CPHL Lagos (2), and YDMH (1). The cases were reported from Edo -1 (Egor); Niger -1 (Suleja); Rivers-1 (Port-Harcourt); Sokoto-1 (Dange-shuni); Osun-1 (Atakunmosa East); Ondo-1 (Akure South). The inconclusive cases were reported from Oyo -1 (Olorunsogo); Anambra-2 (Idemili South & Ayamelum) and Imo -1 (Nwangele).”

 Expert reacts

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Ondo State Epidemiologist, Dr Stephen Fagbemi, said the discovery of the COVID-19 and yellow fever cases showed that the surveillance system was active and strong.

“We are at the peak of the wet season; so, people will be coming down with the infection. People need to get vaccinated, some people got the first shot and ran away and some have not taken it at all. COVID-19 is still with us and people should keep adhering to the non-pharmaceutical protocols.

“For cases of yellow fever, it could be because some children missed out on vaccination during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic but we will overcome it,” Fagbemi said.