WHO to support Nigeria on Yellow fever outbreak

World Health Organisation has revealed that, Nigeria is currently undergoing yellow fever outbreak with the total of 172 deaths, reported across five states, And have promised to support Nigeria fight the ongoing pandemic.

WHO made this known in a recent report titled, ‘WHO supports Nigeria in responding to the yellow fever outbreak amidst an ongoing pandemic’ yesterday.

According to the WHO report, a total of 530 suspected cases have also been reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“The World Health Organisation is supporting Nigeria to respond to the outbreak. As of December 3 and since the beginning of the outbreak, a total of 530 suspected and 48 confirmed cases have been reported by the country’s Centre for Disease Control, with 172 deaths among suspected cases across the five affected states. Sample testing is ongoing at the national reference laboratories in the country.” They stated.

“With the onset of the current outbreak, epidemiologists and other health professionals have been deployed in each of the affected states. Outbreak investigation is ongoing through Rapid Response Teams under the coordination of respective state ministries of health. Workers at selected hospitals in each of the five affected states have been trained and provided with supplies to treat yellow fever patients.”

“The relative proximity of Delta, Enugu, Benue and Ebonyi states with Lagos is an added concern, because the introduction of yellow fever outbreaks in urban environments with a large unvaccinated population can lead to rapid amplification with associated severe impacts. Population movements that could contribute to spreading of the virus may have been reduced in the COVID-19 context. However, there is a lack of data on this, and the risk of spread should be monitored.”

Okwuego.O/PHW