8 NYSC Members Test COVID-19 Positive In Bauchi
Yellow fever kills 10 people
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) says as at Thursday, November 19, 2020, eight National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) members posted to the State have returned positive tests to COVID-19 infection.
Also, two more people in the state have died of suspected Yellow fever, putting the number of deaths so far recorded at 10 since the disease reported outbreak last week.
BASPHCDA said in a press statement signed by its Information Officer, Mohammed Ibrahim that with recent reopening of NYSC camps nationwide, its surveillance investigation revealed that of the 600 Corp members that reported in camp, eight of them have been confirmed “positive for COVID-19 in Wailo Camp of Ganjuwa Local Government area” .
The statement said to ensure deescalation, the Agency Executive Chairman, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, has already instructed the Surveillance Team to undertake samples collection and investigation of all Corps members currently in the camp while a holding room has since been allocated by the Director NYSC to house suspected positive cases.
On the Agency’s response to the yellow fever outbreak, the statement explained that as the cases exacerbate, more than 800 persons have so far been vaccinated in Ganjuwa as a response to halt its spread within the area.
It also said given that the NYSC Wailo camp is located in Ganjuwa LGA, the PHC boss has ordered mass vaccinations to safeguard the health condition of corps members posted to serve in the state.
Furthermore, the Agency said index case for this year’s Yellow fever was a three year old child which portends a worrisome situation since Yellow fever vaccination started 10 years ago in Nigeria.
However, the Executive Chairman revealed that after a detailed active case investigation report, there has been raising cases of outbreaks in some communities in the state.
“As you are aware, earlier last week, the Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed had a media briefing where he mentioned the deaths of eight (8) probable Yellow fever cases as well as eight (8) confirmed Yellow fever cases in Ganjuwa Local Government area of Bauchi State.
“Already, the Commissioner of Health, together with Executive Chairman, have activated various Rapid Response Teams at State and LGA levels and even conducted a series of meetings to underscore the magnitude of these new emerging cases.
“However, in respect to in depth investigation, the Executive Chairman sought for scientific entomological investigation in some villages and communities in order to study the type of mosquitos that continue to become a source of concern in those communities, to which a research is still ongoing”, the statement said.
On the Lassa fever reoccurrence, the Agency disclosed that 47 persons have been confirmed positive this year, with a total of 18 deaths from the confirmed cases.
“Unfortunately, we received a shocking report of 3 year old female child who died of Lassa fever complications two weeks ago after she was confirmed positive by the NCDC laboratory test. As we gather this report, 3 new cases were also reported with 2 from Toro while Tafawa Balewa local government recorded 1 new case.
“With this new development, the Executive Chairman has instructed all the 4 Pillars of the State Rapid Response Team such as Surveillance/Contact Tracing, Case management, Environmental Management, and Risk Communication to swift into action so as to robustly downscale the intensity of these outbreaks in all the identified communities in Bauchi State.
“One of the challenges is the fact that results are being delayed by the Abuja NCDC National Reference laboratories after it has been sent for investigation.
“So far, about 60 samples of a suspected Yellow fever cases and another 63 samples of suspected Lassa fever were sent for an investigation for the past 11 days”, the Agency said.