A spate of pneumonia cases caused by A novel Coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was observed in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in late 2019. The outbreak termed COVID-19 has spread rapidly almost throughout the world with a case fatality of approximately 6.9%. The disease spreads by droplet infection from person to person. Early diagnosis is the key for prompt management of cases and control of the spread of the virus. Currently, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT- PCR) for the detection of unique sequences of the viral genome is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing where the N, E, S and RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) genes are targeted using upper and lower respiratory tract specimens. The rRT-PCR is labor intensive, severely constraining the capacity for quick turnaround time (TAT) from sample collection to results transmission particularly in resource limited settings. Consequently, laboratory testing of suspected cases might be characterized by long wait periods. The exponential increase in demand for tests, coupled with inherent shortage or scarcity of laboratory resources dictates the need to provide for all that is required for effective diagnosis in the laboratory. Also, whether other materials, such as blood, urine, stools, saliva and throat washing, will become valid alternatives has not been unequivocally defined so far. The development and availability of serological assays and point of care molecular testing assays are potentially viable opportunity for purposes of diagnostics and epidemiologic surveillance, although more information is needed on accuracy and reliability of these portable immunoassays as non has been licensed for use in the country according to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Majority (80%) of these infections remains asymptomatic and are the major drivers of the spread of the infection around the world. With the perception of our experiences in recent months, it is clear that COVID-19 may have come to stay and we might be living together with this virus for quite a long time. Thus, our level of surveillance (using laboratory testing) and responsiveness against the emergence over burdened local outbreaks must be maintained at the highest possible levels with mitigation strategies to limit the spread of the disease.

Introduction: The co–infection of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and C viruses remains a public health problem particularly in resource limited setting like Nigeria. Studies on these co–infections have been done principally among adult and pregnant women with limited information on the pediatric population. The study aims at documenting the burden and the patterns of HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV/HCV co–infections in children in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: A cross–sectional study carried out at the Virology Research Laboratory, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos between December 2008 and January 2014. A total of 393 confirmed HIV infected children aged between <1 to 15 years were screened from two tertiary health facilities; Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH, n=272) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH, n=121), Lagos. Plasma samples were screened for markers for HBV (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcIgM) and HCV (anti–HCV) using a fourth generation enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (DIA. PRO. Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl., Italy). Results: Out of the 393 samples analyzed, 40 (10.2%) were sero–positive for dual HIV/HBV co–infection, comprising 21 (52.5%) females and 19 (47.5%) males, while 15 (3.8%) had detectable antibodies to HCV consisting of 7 (46.7%) females and 8 (53.3%) males without any statistical significance. On the overall, two (0.5%) of the participants were seropositive for triple HIV, HBV and HCV co–infections. HIV/HBV co–infection was detected among all the age groups, whereas, HIV/HCV co–infection was not seen among children <1 to 5 years. Conclusion: This analysis confirmed a high prevalence of HBV, low prevalence of HCV and suggests that chronic hepatitis may be prevalent among our HIV–infected children. Thus, routine screening and early detections are therefore necessary for an appropriate treatment plan for children co–infected with HIV/HBV and or with HCV. Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Co–infection and Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Introduction : Ebola virus (EBOV) has been shown to persist in some body fluids of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) survivors with implication for future transmission particularly in Nigeria where EVD was experienced for the first time in 2014. Thus, this paper was aimed at providing information on the duration of persistence of EBOV in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Ten consenting EVD survivors were enrolled. Baseline specimens; urine and semen (males), urine and high vaginal swab (HVS) (females) were obtained within one month after discharge from the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) and subsequently every fortnight. Samples were analyzed using quantitative Real-Star Filovirus Screen RT-PCR kit 1.0 at the National Reference Laboratory in Lagos. Results : Ten EVD survivors comprising 4 (40%) males and 6 (60%) females with age ranges of 28 to >33 years (mean age: 33.0 ± 6.9 years) were evaluated. EBOV RNA was not detected in the urine of all the participants and HVS from the females. However, EBOV RNA was detected in the semen of all 4 (100%) male participants at baseline, and at 2 months after discharge from the ETC. Two men were still positive for EBOV RNA 4 months after discharge from the ETC despite persistent negative vireamia. Conclusions : Our data confirm that a negative viremia in the convalescent period is not predictive of the absence of the virus in semen. Despite an early clearance of the virus from the urine and HVS, there was persistence of EBOV RNA in semen of male survivors 4 months after recovery.

Introduction: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the aetiological agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. Fever is mostly associated with the early stage of virus replication known as acute HIV infection or syndrome; as such, determination of HIV status during this critical period is a good means of improving clinical outcome in those infected. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV among febrile individuals in Lagos, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of 250 febrile individuals attending General Hospitals at Isolo, Mushin and Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. Analysis was carried out at the Virology Research Laboratory, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from July to October 2017. Sample analysis was done according to the Nigerian National Testing Algorithm to determine HIV status using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: Out of the 250 febrile participants, 8 were positive for HIV, with an overall prevalence of 3.2%. Further analysis however showed that 90% of the HIV positive participants had four or more episodes of fever in a month. HIV infection was still majorly among the ages 15-24 and 25-34 for male and ages 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 for females.Conclusion: This findings showed that different cohorts are significantly at risk of HIV infection. Hence, policies and all efforts to reduce the burden of HIV are paramount for a HIV free future for Nigeria.Keywords: Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS), Fever, Asymptomatic and Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

The first epidemic of Ebola haemorrhagic disease in West Africa is the largest and longest Ebola epidemic till date, where the outbreak notably involved three countries with distant spread to other countries. It has caused significant mortality, with reported case fatality rates of up to 70%. Data and relevant information were extracted from the review of majorly relevant publications/papers about the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and other previous outbreaks of Ebola virus (EBOV). As of 2016, with the epidemic under control, the World Health Organization has warned that flare-ups of the disease are likely to continue for some time as recently occurred in Sierra Leone and the on-going in Guinea. As this may not be the last outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, there is a need to focus on diagnostic and research capacity required to curtail EVD with adequate measures for emergency preparedness and policies for innovative treatment strategies.

Background and Objective: Viruses cause a variety of illnesses in humans, yet only a few antiviral drugs have been developed.This study was therefore designed to evaluate three potentially useful medicinal plants locally available in Nigeria for possible therapeutic applications against genetically and functionally diverse virus families public health importance.Materials and Methods: Fresh leaves of Bambusa vulgaris, Moringa oleifera and seed of Citrus paridisi were collected from Lagos State, South Western Nigeria.Extraction of the plant materials was done with methanol, chloroform, water and n-hexane using the Soxhlet extractor and concentrated using the rotary evaporator.Results: Results obtained showed that n-hexane extracts of B. vulgaris and M. oleifera inhibited measles virus at the concentrations of 0.125 and 0.016 µg µLG 1 , respectively.Similarly, while aqueous extract of M. oleifera inhibited measles at 0.125 and 0.063 µg µLG 1 , aqueous extract of C. paridisi inhibited the virus at 0.031 µg µLG 1 .While none of the extracts of M. oleifera and C. paridisi produced any inhibitory activity against HSV-1, n-hexane extract of B. vulgaris was able to inhibit the virus at 0.125 µg µLG 1 .Results of the mechanism of action of the extracts on the replicative cycle of the viruses revealed both adsorption/entry and post infection inhibitors of the viruses.Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of terpenes, alkaloids, flavonoid, tannins, combined and free anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and saponins.Conclusion: This study has shown that indigenous medicinal plants are invaluable broad spectrum agents in the development of efficacious antiviral cocktails against RNA and DNA viruses of public health importance in Nigeria.

Rotavirus is the major etiology of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide. It has been estimated that about 39% of childhood diarrhoea hospitalizations are caused by the virus and nearly half a million children die from the infections each year especially in developing countries on the Asian subcontinent, Africa, and Latin America where health care facilities are in short supply. Stool specimens collected from the first to fourth days of illness are optimal for detection of the infection. Diagnosis was originally performed using electron microscopy, which is still occasionally used in centers where it is available. Routine diagnosis is however, now performed by antigen detection on feces using commercially available, simple, rapid immunochromatographic dipstick style kits which have superseded the earlier latex agglutination and enzyme immunoassay methods whose usefulness in diagnosis is still relevant. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of feces is also available in some reference and research centers, and is particularly useful for identification of outbreaks due to serogroups other than group A. Similarly viral culture and serology are also available but do not play much roles in diagnosis of acute disease. Rotavirus infection is indeed a public health problem and early, rapid, accurate and reliable diagnostic techniques are essential for effective patient management and infection control.