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. 2020 Sep 11:148:e208.
doi: 10.1017/S095026882000206X.

Descriptive epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 in Nigeria, 27 February-6 June 2020

K O Elimian  1   2   3 , C L Ochu  1   3 , E Ilori  4 , J Oladejo  5 , E Igumbor  1   3   6 , L Steinhardt  7 , J Wagai  4 , C Arinze  4 , W Ukponu  8 , C Obiekea  9 , O Aderinola  5 , E Crawford  1 , A Olayinka  3   10   11 , C Dan-Nwafor  4 , T Okwor  1 , Y Disu  1 , A Yinka-Ogunleye  4 , N E Kanu  12   13 , O A Olawepo  8 , O Aruna  14 , C A Michael  12 , L Dunkwu  15 , O Ipadeola  7   16 , D Naidoo  10 , C D Umeokonkwo  12   17 , A Matthias  7 , O Okunromade  4 , S Badaru  9 , A Jinadu  5 , O Ogunbode  1 , A Egwuenu  1 , A Jafiya  4 , M Dalhat  1   18 , F Saleh  1 , G B Ebhodaghe  1 , A Ahumibe  9 , R U Yashe  4 , R Atteh  4 , W E Nwachukwu  4 , C Ezeokafor  3   19 , D Olaleye  3   20 , Z Habib  3   21 , I Abdus-Salam  22 , E Pembi  23 , D John  24 , U J Okhuarobo  25 , H Assad  5   26 , Y Gandi  27 , B Muhammad  28 , C Nwagwogu  29 , I Nwadiuto  30 , K Sulaiman  31 , I Iwuji  32 , A Okeji  33 , S Thliza  34 , S Fagbemi  35 , R Usman  36 , A A Mohammed  37 , O Adeola-Musa  38 , M Ishaka  39 , U Aketemo  40 , K Kamaldeen  41 , C E Obagha  42 , A O Akinyode  43 , P Nguku  12 , N Mba  9 , C Ihekweazu  44
Affiliations

Descriptive epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 in Nigeria, 27 February-6 June 2020

K O Elimian et al. Epidemiol Infect. .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria with a view of generating evidence to enhance planning and response strategies. A national surveillance dataset between 27 February and 6 June 2020 was retrospectively analysed, with confirmatory testing for COVID-19 done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary outcomes were cumulative incidence (CI) and case fatality (CF). A total of 40 926 persons (67% of total 60 839) had complete records of RT-PCR test across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, 12 289 (30.0%) of whom were confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those confirmed cases, 3467 (28.2%) had complete records of clinical outcome (alive or dead), 342 (9.9%) of which died. The overall CI and CF were 5.6 per 100 000 population and 2.8%, respectively. The highest proportion of COVID-19 cases and deaths were recorded in persons aged 31-40 years (25.5%) and 61-70 years (26.6%), respectively; and males accounted for a higher proportion of confirmed cases (65.8%) and deaths (79.0%). Sixty-six per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic at diagnosis. In conclusion, this paper has provided an insight into the early epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which could be useful for contextualising public health planning.

Keywords: Asymptomatic; COVID-19; Nigeria; case fatality; cumulative incidence; epidemiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Suspected COVID-19 cases in Nigeria by case status and date, 26 February to 5 June 2020.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Distribution of non-cases and confirmed cases of COVID-19 by age and sex in Nigeria, 26 February to 6 June 2020.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
(a) Spatial distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases by Nigerian State, 28 February–6 June 2020. (b) Spatial distribution of confirmed COVID-19 deaths by Nigerian State, 28 February–6 June 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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