The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued an official statement in response to the recent news reports regarding the detection of 25 new COVID-19 cases in Benue State.
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The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa clarified that the information was misinterpreted from a statement made by a World Health Organization (WHO) State surveillance officer during a meeting organized by the Benue State Primary Healthcare Board in collaboration with the WHO.
Dr. Adetifa said the surveillance officer reported that “Benue State had recorded a total of 25 cases in the year 2023 with the last case recorded as of mid-April (epi week 18). This information was derived from the weekly situation report (SITREP) published by the state ministry of health”. He said.
NCDC boss emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure public health safety.
Dr. Adetifa explained that since the first reported case of COVID-19 in Nigeria, a total of 6,013,826 tests have been conducted, with 267,184 confirmed cases and 3,155 deaths.
“In the last quarter of 2023, 15,481 tests were conducted, revealing 75 confirmed cases in 25 states”. He added.
“The Federal Government, through the NCDC, has integrated COVID-19 testing into routine disease surveillance, treating it as a priority infectious disease alongside other health concerns”. He said.
The NCDC DG said as part of ongoing efforts, the NCDC continues to test for COVID-19 throughout the year, especially among high-risk groups presenting with Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) or Influenza-like illness (ILI).
“The organization is transitioning to a pan-respiratory disease surveillance platform to enhance the monitoring of priority respiratory pathogens”. He added.
Acknowledging the critical role of the media in public health, the NCDC values its partnership with journalists. However, it emphasizes the need for responsible reporting to prevent misinformation and potential public health threats.
“The NCDC encourages accurate information dissemination to avoid unnecessary concern and panic among Nigerians during these challenging times”. He said.
