Health

THE NINE DANGEROUS BUGS ON WHO WARNING LIST OF THREATS TO THE WORLD – FROM NIPAH TO ZIKA

Published

4 years ago

April 9, 2021

T he World Health Organization (WHO) holds an alert list of pathogens which they say are ‘priority diseases’ that could be the biggest threats to humans unless action is taken, with Covid, Zika and Disease X are all ones to watch. While locked down Brits are preparing to slowly return to normal life the next deadly pandemic could be just around the corner, scientists fear.

The World Health Organization (WHO) holds an alert list of pathogens which they say are ‘priority diseases’, that without proper research, could be the next big threat to humanity. Covid-19 is among that list of top tier diseases, that also includes Ebola, Zika virus and Disease X. The WHO said of the list: “Worldwide, the number of potential pathogens is very large, while the resources for disease research and development [R&D] is limited.

“To ensure eforts under WHO’s R&D Blueprint are focused and productive, a list of diseases and pathogens are prioritized for R&D in public health emergency contexts.”

The list goes on to identify nine diseases that have scientists concerned about. These are said to “pose the greatest public health risk” due to their ‘epidemic potential’ and associated lack of or need for, appropriate countermeasures. Covid is currently at the top of their list as the world continues to reel from the effects of the pandemic. But the other eight are all deadly and could cause yet another threat to humanity unless action is taken, scientists warn.

What are the other eight so-called ‘priority diseases’?

1. Nipah virus Scientists are worried about the brain-swelling Nipah disease, which has a death rate of up to 75 per cent, potentially becoming the next ‘big’ virus. Vomiting, seizures and brain swelling are some of the symptoms of the virus, which first jumped from pigs to farmers in Malaysia in 1999.

Some people can also experience pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours. The mortality rate of Nipah ranges between 40 to 75 per cent, far higher than the rate for coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.

2. Ebola Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans, after being transmitted from wild animals, like fruit bats, primates and porcupines. It then spreads in humans through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people. It has an average fatality rate of around 50 per cent. Symptoms can be sudden and may include fever, fatigue, muscle, pain, headache, and a sore throat.

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. A new outbreak was recently announced in Guinea after three people died and four others fell ill. It is the first resurgence of the disease there since the worst outbreak between 2013 and 2016.

3. Zika The virus, mainly transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, sparked fears of an epidemic in 2019. Most of northern Europe was believed to be under threat as the Aedes mosquitoes moved away from Africa. There were particular concerns for pregnant women as the disease is transmitted from the mother to her foetus, as well as through sexual contact or the transfusion of blood. No vaccine is yet available for the prevention or treatment of Zika virus infection.

Symptoms are generally mild including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. But infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly – where the baby’s head is small, and other congenital abnormalities in the developing foetus and newborn baby.

4. MERS and SARS The WHO lists both of these illnesses together. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus transferred to humans from infected camels. Severe illness can cause a respiratory failure which requires ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic diseases. About 35 per cent of patients with MERSCoV have died.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), meanwhile, is a viral respiratory disease caused by a SARS-associated coronavirus. It was first identified at the end of February 2003 during an outbreak that emerged in China and spread to four other countries. SARS is an airborne virus and can spread through small droplets of saliva in a similar way to Covid-19. The first symptom of the illness is generally fever leading to a dry cough. In 10 to 20 per cent of cases, the respiratory illness is severe enough to require intubation and mechanical ventilation. The fatality rate is around three per cent.

5. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a virus transmitted by ticks and can also be contracted through contact with animals being slaughtered. The onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light). Severely ill patients may experience rapid kidney deterioration, sudden liver failure or pulmonary failure after the fifth day of illness. The fever has a high case fatality ratio from 10 to 40 per cent.

6. Lassa fever Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in health care settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures.

The overall case-fatality rate is 1 per cent. About 80 per cent of people who become infected with the Lassa virus have no symptoms. 1 in 5 infections results in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.

7. Rif Valley fever Rif Valley fever, first identified in Kenya in 1931, mostly afects animals but can also infect humans. It is passed by mosquitoes and blood-feeding flies. In humans, the disease ranges from a mild flu-like illness to severe hemorrhagic fever that can be lethal. When livestock are infected the disease can cause significant economic losses due to high mortality rates in young animals and waves of abortions in pregnant females. While some human infections have resulted from the bite of infected mosquitoes, most human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. No human-to-human transmission has yet been documented and in 2000, the first reported cases of the disease outside the African continent came from Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

8. Disease X Disease X is a placeholder name adopted by the World Health Organization three years ago, representing a hypothetical, as-yet-unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic. Mark Wool house, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said that in 2017, he and his colleagues got WHO to add Disease X to its list of priority diseases.

This potential new virus could be caused by “zoonotic” diseases – which is when infections move from animals to humans. The WHO says that a ‘serious international epidemic’ could be caused by a pathogen that is currently unknown to cause human disease. mirror.co.uk

Headlines

Osun govt. to enhance healthcare delivery – Commissioner

Published

3 weeks ago

December 16, 2024

Saadatu Sahabo

Mrs Adenike Adeleke, the Osun State Commissioner for Federal Matters, has stated that the state was ready to advance its Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery for public well-being.

Adeleke made this statement in Abuja on Sunday at the end-of-year party organised by the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja.

She was represented by Mr Olukunle Alao, Director of the Osun State Liaison Office in Abuja.

Adeleke emphasised that the government was committed to providing more support to ensure healthcare services were more accessible to where people live and work.

She also highlighted that such services were part of the democratic benefits promised by the current administration in the state.

“Recently, our state received an award for being the best performing state in Primary Health Care in the South West. This demonstrates that Gov. Ademola Adeleke prioritises the health of the people,” she said.

She encouraged the association members to prioritise health to live longer, stressing, “Health is wealth.”

Adeleke also shared positive feedback from the public, noting that the people have rated the administration highly in health, infrastructure, and education.

“We must express our appreciation to our people,” she added.

She further urged members to protect their culture, language, and traditions by passing them on to their children.

“It is important for our children to understand that they are from Osun State, particularly our villages and towns. We should always encourage them to visit home once in a while,” she said.

She also conveyed the governor’s greetings to the association members on the occasion.

Mr Suleiman Olapade, Chairman of the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja, thanked the Osun State government for its support.

Olapade commended the executives and members for their efforts to uplift the association and urged them to serve as true ambassadors of the state.

He also encouraged members to intensify efforts to promote good governance in Osun.

According to Olapade, the objectives of the association include promoting the legitimate interests of members, empowering them through cooperative societies, and fostering mutual benefits.

In his address, Chief Omolade Adebayo of Tundunwada, Lugbe, Abuja, urged members to value unity, respect, love, and mutual understanding among themselves.

He emphasised that these qualities were crucial for the sustainability and longevity of any successful association.

Headlines

FG deploys 333 Truenat devices to revolutionise TB diagnostics

Published

4 weeks ago

December 12, 2024

Saadatu Sahabo

The Federal Government, with support from the Global Fund, has deployed 333 Truenat devices across the country in an effort to combat tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

Mrs Rita Akpakpan, Head of Laboratory Services at the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), disclosed this to newsmen on the side-lines of the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference on Thursday in Abuja.

Akpakpan said that the initiative was expected to transform TB diagnostics in peripheral and underserved areas, significantly boosting case detection rates and improving access to timely care.

“Nigeria accounts for 75 per cent of the global “missing TB cases” and 70 per cent of missing DR-TB cases due to limited access to rapid molecular testing in rural and remote areas.

“The Truenat system, developed by India-based Molbio Diagnostics, offers a portable, battery-operated, and solar-compatible solution designed for point-of-care testing,” she said.

She said that Truenat had proven to drastically reduce diagnostic turnaround times while increasing TB case detection rates.

“This deployment will enable NTBLCP to test an additional 8,000 people daily, or two million more annually, helping to curtail community transmission and ensuring early treatment, “she said.

According to her, the Truenat device stands out for its suitability in resource-limited settings.

“The device is compact, rugged, and dust-tolerant. It operates efficiently in temperatures of up to 40°C without air conditioning and has minimal biosafety issues.

“This makes it ideal for Nigeria’s remote and high-temperature regions,” she said.

She said that the system could detect TB and Rifampicin resistance by extracting, amplifying, and identifying specific genomic DNA, providing rapid and accurate results at the point of care.

Dr Emperor Ubochioma, the Programme Management Unit Team Lead, emphasised the transformative nature of the initiative:

“This deployment empowers our healthcare system with advanced diagnostic tools that reach hard-to-reach areas.

“We are confident that this will significantly improve TB detection rates and treatment outcomes, reducing the burden of TB in our country,” he said.

He said that to ensure seamless implementation, Molbio Diagnostics and NTBLCP were conducting nationwide training sessions for end users, alongside the installation of the devices.

Mr Sriram Natarajan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Molbio Diagnostics, highlighted the significance of this effort:

“The deployment of 333 Truenat devices in Nigeria marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative diagnostic solutions to underserved regions.

“We are committed to supporting Nigeria in its fight against TB and improving public health outcomes.

Headlines

Malaria vaccine arrives Nigeria, Kebbi, Bayelsa take centre stage

Published

1 month ago

December 3, 2024

Saadatu Sahabo

The Kebbi State Ministry of Health in collaboration with State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), has inaugurated rollout of malaria vaccination for children from five to 11 months in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is being launched simultaneously in Bayelsa.

NAN also reports that the Dep. Gov. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, of Kebbi, flagged off the malaria vaccine immunisation exercise in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Flagging the exercise, Abubakar-Tafida, lamented that malaria had been a significant challenge, “claiming countless lives and impacting the health and well-being of our communities.

“Today, we take a monumental step in our ongoing battle against this deadly disease.

“The introduction of the malaria vaccine stands as a symbol of hope and a clear demonstration of our unwavering dedication to protecting the health of our citizens.

“Kebbi State has long remained committed to improving the health and well-being of its people.”

He said the present administration’s focus has always been on ensuring accessible healthcare, advancing medical interventions, and addressing the pressing health challenges that affect the communities.

“The introduction of the malaria vaccine into our routine immunisation programme is a clear indication of this commitment.

“We recognise that the health of our people is foremost to the growth and prosperity of our state.

“This initiative is part of our broader vision to reduce preventable diseases, particularly malaria, and to create a healthier, more resilient population,” he said.

Abubakar-Tafida, also added that the introduction of the malaria vaccine was a game-changer in their fight against this disease.

“When combined with existing malaria control measures such as Seasonal Malaria Chemotherapy (SMC) and the distribution of treated mosquito nets, we are confident that we can significantly reduce the burden of malaria in Kebbi.

“With the launch of this vaccine intervention, we are optimistic that we can create a healthier, more prosperous future for our people,” he said.

Abubakar-Tafida urged the general public to take advantage of the lifesaving intervention, saying” the vaccine is safe, effective, and free.”

He stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that children, families, and communities were protected from the scourge of malaria.

“To our esteemed healthcare professionals and Traditional Rulers, your commitment and relentless work have brought us great success to this pivotal moment.

“Your efforts in ensuring the successful rollout of this vaccine are immeasurable. You are the front-line heroes in our fight against malaria, and for this, we owe you our deepest gratitude,” he commended.

The deputy governor thanked the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for their tireless efforts in leading the charge against malaria in Nigeria.

“I would also like to express our gratitude to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners for their technical and financial support towards this initiative.

“Your partnership is invaluable, and we look forward to continued collaboration in our quest to eliminate malaria and other communicable diseases,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Alhaji Yunusa Ismail, highlighted that the malaria had been one of the health challenges facing the countries for many years.

He added that other nations had tried and eliminated malaria completely from their countries, saying that there had been series of discussions by the stakeholders in the countries, including the governors on ways to tackle the menace.

“It was concluded that at the end of the discussions that a newly introduced malaria vaccine should be tried and piloted in Kebbi and Bayelsa state, hence the reason for the inaugural rollout of malaria vaccination in the state.

“The vaccination has commenced on this December and the exercise will continue till February, 2025,” he said.

Ismail called on the traditional rulers to partner with the stakeholders to eradicate malaria through vaccine.

Speaking on behalf of the Gwandu Emirate, the Focal Person of the emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, assured that the emirate would sustain its fatherly and advocacy contribution for the success of the vaccine set target in the state.

“The state is closer to Fadama and riverine areas, which add to the high rate of malaria alarming record in the state.

“We call on the general public to come out en mass for the vaccine and we thank the government and its partners for the feat,” he said.

Representatives of National Primary Heath Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Jamal Musa, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Nasir Zurmi, and UNICEF, Alhaji Isa Ibrahim, appreciated the efforts of the state government and transformative leadership of Gov. Nasir Idris, in health sector in the state.

They renewed their commitment to ensuring the eradication of child killer diseases, especially malaria, urging parents and caregivers to leverage the vaccine rollout for the promotion of the children health in the state.