The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised Nigerians to remain calm as the agency was on the alert for the mysterious Chinese coronavirus disease.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC Director-General, gave the advice in a public health advisory on Wednesday in Abuja.
The virus, a large group of viruses that are common among animals, were first identified by Chinese researchers with the pathogen behind a mysterious illness that had sickened 59 people in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in Central China.
Ihekweazu said the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) through NCDC and its partners were fully committed to strengthening the country’s preparedness and response to infectious disease.
The NCDC boss said Nigeria was currently coordinating a multi-sectoral technical group that would assess and manage the risk of the virus’ importation to the country.
“NCDC is in close communication with the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is closely monitoring the situation globally.
“WHO is in direct communication with the Government of China and other affected countries, and has released technical and travel guidance,” Ihekweazu said.
He further said the Port Health Services Unit of the FMoH was alerted and had heightened screening measures at the points of entry.
According to him, in China, exit screening measures have been enhanced for travelers from Wuhan city at the Points of Entry (PoE) (airports and ground transport stations) since Jan. 14.
“This includes temperature checks, combined with provision of information and masks to passengers with fever, as well as directing symptomatic passengers to health facilities for follow up,” he said.
Ihekeazu, therefore, advised that travelers from Nigeria to Wuhan, China, should avoid contact with sick people, animals (alive or dead), and animal markets.
“Travelers from Wuhan to Nigeria, may be asked questions upon arrival by the Port Health Services unit at points of entry about symptoms of illness and travel history, and are advised to report immediately to NCDC, if they fell ill after a trip to Wuhan,” he said.
Ihekweazu further said that WHO had convened its Emergency Committee to determine whether the outbreak should be declared a Public Health Event of International Concern (PHEIC).
He explained that detailed information would be shared with the public as it became available.
Speaking on the virus’ symptoms, Ihekweazu said the virus could make people sick, usually with a mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness, similar to common cold.
He also said the symptoms included runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly headache and fever, which could last for a couple of days.
“For those with weak immune system, the elderly and the very young, there is a chance of the virus causing a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like a pneumonia or bronchitis.
“There are a handful of human coronaviruses that are known to be deadly,” he said.
Speaking of the treatment, Ihekweazu said there was no specific treatment for disease caused by the novel coronavirus yet.
He, however, said many of the symptoms could be treated, adding that treatment must be based on the patient’s clinical condition.
“In addition, supportive care for infected persons could be highly effective,” he said.
The NCDC boss also advised Nigerians to protect themselves to reduce the risk of and contacting and spreading coronavirus.
“Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water, cover your mouth and nose properly with handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing.
“You may also cough into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
“Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms,” he said.
He urged healthcare workers to always observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and take a travel history.
Recall that the Chinese’s mystery coronavirus has grown dramatically to more than 400 cases and a number of cases confirmed in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.
The nine people who died from the illness were from Hubei, a Chinese province with Wuhan as capital.
Coronavirus: Nigeria Port Health Services on alert at points of entry
Meanwhile, the NCDC also said that the Nigeria port health services are on alert at points of entry to curb the spread of coronavirus to the country.
The Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) was first identified by Chinese researchers with the pathogen behind a mysterious illness that had sickened 59 people in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in central China.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of NCDC said on his tweeter handle — @Chikwe_I, that the centre was aware of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.
“The boundaries we hold dear are not respected by infectious diseases.
“The recent emergency of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China and its spread to other countries within weeks reminds us of the threat infectious diseases pose to all countries.
“Though the risk of spread to Nigeria is moderate according to WHO, we remain at alert and continue to strengthen preparedness,” he tweeted.
In addition, he commended the pace at which China generated the genetic sequence of the virus and made the information available to the global health community.
He also tweeted that “this is a step in the right direction, which will further understanding of virus and define response activities.
“We are carrying out regular risk assessment and reviewing our level of preparedness in the event of coronavirus outbreak.
“Our emergency preparedness team holds daily epidemic intelligence review meeting to guide response activities.
“We continue to build strong systems.
“We are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Port Health Services to strengthen surveillance at various points of entry, especially from China.
“The advice to travellers from China is to report to port health officers or NCDC, if they feel ill.”
Meanwhile, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is expected to convene an Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
under the International Health Regulations on Wednesday.
The meeting is to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, and what recommendations should be made to manage it.
Coronavirus: NCDC assesses, manages risk, advises on how to keep safe
In other news, the NCDC is currently coordinating a multisectoral technical group that is assessing and managing the risk of importation of Coronavirus into the country.
The information is in a public health advisory by NCDC on Wednesday.
Coronavirus are viruses typically found in animals, ranging from livestock to household pets and wildlife such as bats.
When they make the jump to humans, they can cause fever, respiratory illness and inflammation in the lungs.
In immunocompromised individuals such as the elderly or those with HIV-AIDS, the virus can cause severe respiratory illness.
The new virus detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has claimed lives and infected dozens of Chinese citizens, with a pneumonia-like illness and has no known cure yet.
It was reported to World Health Organisation (WHO) on Dec. 31, 2019 and has been under investigation since.
WHO indicates that there are still many unknown issues about the virus, but Chinese scientists linked the disease to a family of viruses known as Coronaviridae which looks like spiked rings under an electron microscope.
They are so named because of the spikes, which form a halo around their viral envelope, and are as deadly as SARS and MERS viruses.
Scientists are yet to fully understand how destructive the new virus can be, dubbed 2019-nCoV, but researchers and investigators are just beginning to understand where it originated, how it is transmitted, how far it has spread and symptoms patients present with.
As of Jan. 20, case numbers have skyrocketed to over 200 in China and abroad, as Chinese authorities confirmed that health workers have been infected, suggesting that it has achieved human-to-human transmission.
Meanwhile, NCDC, which is a government agency with the mandate to lead the prevention, detection and control of communicable diseases, states that it is in close communication withWHO, which is closely monitoring the situation globally.
The NCDC public health advisory noted that “WHO is in direct communication with the government of China and other affected countries, and has released technical and travel guidance to check the spread of the disease.’’
The centre, which also has the mandate to investigate and control communicable diseases of national and international public health importance, stated that Port Health Services unit of Federal Ministry of Health had been placed on alert and had heightened screening measures at points of entry.
It noted that in China, exit screening measures had been enhanced for travellers from Wuhan city at the Points of Entry (PoE) (airports and ground transport stations) since Jan. 14.
The screening includes temperature checks, provision of information and masks to passengers with fever, as well as directing symptomatic passengers to health facilities for follow up.
The NCDC, therefore, advised Nigerians to remain calm, and urged travellers from Nigeria to Wuhan, China, to avoid contact with sick people, animals (alive or dead), and animal markets.
It noted that travellers from Wuhan to Nigeria would also be asked questions upon arrival by the Port Health Services unit at points of entry about symptoms of illness and travel history, and be advised to report immediately to NCDC, if they feel ill after a trip to Wuhan.
The centre reiterated commitment to strengthen preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks in collaboration with Ministry of Health and its partners.
It then shared information on how to keep safe to reduce the risk of spread of coronavirus, emphasising regular washing of hands with soap under running water.
It advised proper covering of mouth and nose with handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing and avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
The centre cautioned against self-medication and urged anyone with symptoms to report to the nearest health facility.
It also advised healthcare workers to always observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and to take travel history.
It noted that the centre would keep the public updated as more information became available.