Health

England set to remove final countries from Covid travel ‘red list’

All remaining destinations on the UK’s travel “red list” will be removed and vaccines from dozens more countries are to be recognised, ministers have announced in a significant opening up of borders.

The move means no passengers will have to quarantine in a hotel at a cost of more than £2,000 for 11 nights once the change comes into effect from 4am on Monday 1 November.

However, the red list system will not be abandoned entirely, and countries may be added again in future if concerning new variants emerge. The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said it remained “vital in protecting our borders” and that a small number of quarantine hotel rooms are being kept on standby. “We … will not hesitate to take swift action by adding countries to the red list if the risk increases again,” he said.

The red list was slimmed down significantly at the last review, and only included South and Central American countries. The final ones to be removed are Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela.

“Delta is now the dominant variant in most countries around the world,” the Department for Transport said. “This means the risk of known variants entering the UK has reduced.” It added ministers would decide whether any countries needed to be re-added in three weeks.Ministers are also preparing to recognise vaccines administered in 30 more countries, including Peru and Uganda, meaning travellers from those countries can avoid staying at home for up to 10 days if fully inoculated with an approved jab.

Labour said the protection of Britain’s border had been “shambolic” and removing all countries from the red list “could post risks to our future safety”. The shadow transport secretary, Jim McMahon, once again urged the government to “be open and honest with the public” by publishing full country-by-country data on Covid to reassure people “these decisions are being taken based on science, not politics”.

It came as the European Commission announced that UK certificates will be recognised as being equivalent in status to the bloc’s own digital Covid certificate from Friday.

While many EU member states have already unilaterally recognised the NHS Covid pass, the long-awaited decision ensures it will be automatically accepted across Europe.

Travellers to countries such as the Netherlands will no longer have to take daily Covid tests to enter bars, restaurants and museums.

Didier Reynders, the EU commissioner for justice, said: “Safer travel is a reality thanks to the EU digital Covid certificate, which is now the leading global standard: 45 countries in four continents are connected to the system and more will follow in the coming weeks and months. We are open to other countries to join our system.”

The commission took three months to assess the UK’s application for equivalence status, which will cover passes issued in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Switzerland, Ukraine, Turkey and North Macedonia all secured the status within a period of five to eight weeks after applying.

Vaccination certificates issued in Armenia will also be recognised from Friday, the commission said.

The tie-up will fold data held by the UK’s NHS app into the EU digital Covid certificate, allowing other countries to access users’ vaccine status and test results at the border.

The lack of equivalence status between the NHS app and the EU system has been a thorn in the side of British tourists seeking to visit a range of European destinations and for those people who were vaccinated in the UK but who live abroad.

The problem has become particularly acute as an increasing number of EU governments have started requiring a Covid pass for entrance to events or hospitality venues.

Since 2 August, visitors from the EU who have been fully vaccinated with a single EMA-approved vaccine have not been obliged to quarantine on entry to the UK.

Health

No new COVID-19 variant in Nigeria- FG

The Federal Government has clarified that the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant, identified in Australia and some other countries in Europe, is not in Nigeria.

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachollum Daju confirmed that a recently leaked letter addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors was precautionary and not intended to cause panic.

Speaking further, Daju noted that the XEC COVID-19 variant has been detected in 29 countries, and due to the festive season, when travellers arrive from various parts of the world, it is crucial for hospitals to implement measures to ensure the country is not caught off guard.

In a letter dated December 5, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had urged health authorities to activate heightened alert systems across hospitals and maintain a high index of suspicion for patients with COVID-like symptoms.

The letter Signed by the Head of the Teaching Hospital Division, Dr O.N. Anuma, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the letter called for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding the variant and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.

“I am directed to inform you of a newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant, which has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally.

“You may wish to know that this variant has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health,” the letter read.

“Alert systems should be immediately activated throughout our hospitals for high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms.

“Timely information sharing among relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, will be vital for effective response strategies.”

The Permanent Secretary stressed the importance of preventive measures during this period to prevent any potential spread of the variant into Nigeria.

Health

Oyo confirms 4 deaths in suspected Lassa fever outbreak

The Oyo State Rapid Response Team, on Thursday, confirmed four deaths linked to a suspected Lassa fever outbreak in the Saki West Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, quoted his counterpart from the Ministry of Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, saying the fatalities consisted three males and one 32-year-old female who was preparing for her marriage.

The report was that an owner of a hospital, alongside three others, died in the town mysteriously.

Following numerous calls reporting deaths in the town, the commissioner tasked the team to Saki to investigate.

“The background information gathered that one of the apprentices at the hospital who had returned from Iwajowa and fell ill about two weeks before the incident was suspected to have introduced the infection.

“She likely transmitted it to her co-workers and the hospital owner.

“Three of the deceased exhibited typical symptoms of Lassa fever, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner showed fatigue and self-medicated with antimalarials and antibiotics.

“His condition only prompted hospital admission when his self-treatment failed,” the statement read.

It added, “Extensive contact tracing was conducted, with particular focus on high-risk contacts who had been involved in the bathing and burial of the deceased.

“The hospital where all the deceased were associated was closed down for decontamination.

“The hospital that admitted the deceased health facility owner, without being informed of the deaths from an ‘unknown’ illness, was also shut down for decontamination, and the doctor was placed under surveillance.

“Public awareness campaigns were held to educate the community about Lassa fever, its transmission, symptoms, and preventive measures.

“The RRT provided on-the-job training to health workers in the affected areas to reinforce Infection Prevention Control protocols and prevent further spread of the disease.

“Sample collection was also carried out on a person exhibiting symptoms, pending laboratory confirmation. The line listing of contacts is still in progress, focusing on individuals at high risk”.

The government team also conducted an advocacy visit to the palace of the Okere of Saki, who was represented by his second-in-command, and was briefed on the outbreak and the necessary containment measures.

“Local government authorities within Saki West were equally informed and aligned with the efforts to manage the situation”, the statement added.

Investigation, according to the commissioner, also revealed that the outbreak initially involved the council, but had extended to Iwajowa and Kajola local government areas.

He said the State Disease Notification Officer in the respective areas had been instructed to begin preliminary containment efforts while awaiting the full deployment of the State RRT.

The team, comprising the Director of Public Health, the State Epidemiologist, DSNOs, State Laboratory Focal Persons, representatives from the World Health Organisation and Red Cross, as well as the PHC Coordinator of Saki West and the LGA DSNO, embarked on a comprehensive investigation to the scene of the incidence.

Health

NCDC issues public advisory on Lassa Fever, warns of increased spread

FG issues Lassa fever alert, death toll hits 102, cases now 4,632

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC has issued a public health advisory on Lassa fever warning of increased case detection and spread of the viral infection.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, raised the concerns following increased reporting of the outbreak by its surveillance teams across the country.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Dr Idris said the death toll from Lassa Fever in Nigeria has risen to 174 out of 1,035 confirmed cases across 28 states and 129 LGAs as of October 13, 2024.

”Lassa fever outbreaks are highly virulent and the loss of human lives resulting from disease are not just statistics but represent the death of beloved family members, spouses and parents.

”In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs. In 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths.

”While we continue to intensify efforts using an all-of-society approach, the public is hereby advised to note that the virus spreads through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats. Contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

”Consuming food or water contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats or person-to-person transmission through body fluids of an infected person.

Dr Idris also warned health care professionals to be alert as Lassa fever presents like other common illnesses accompanied by fever, headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting,

While noting that early diagnosis and treatment of the disease greatly increase the chances of patient survival, Dr Idris highlighted the economic cost of Lassa Fever to communities and the healthcare system.

”The disease is also associated with significant loss of livelihood in the communities it ravages. Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment of the disease strains existing household income pushing households toward poverty.

”Healthcare workers are also vulnerable and the loss of experienced medical personnel due to infection further strains the country’s limited healthcare workforce.”