Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and project-based Direct Facility Financing (DFF) often operate concurrently in primary health care facilities. Understanding how frontline workers navigate these overlapping funding streams can inform primary health care financing reforms that could strengthen routine immunisation and other essential services. We conducted a qualitative study nested within a large Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) of Demand-Side Incentives (DSI) project in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. Using purposive sampling, we interviewed 37 primary health care facility Officers-in-Charge (OIC) across urban, semi-urban and rural settings. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), with the framework matrices used to chart barriers and enablers and thematic synthesis to generate cross-cutting lessons. Sixteen CFIR constructs emerged as most salient. Health workers described BHCPF as the statutory backbone providing system-wide accountability, broader service coverage, and structured stewardship, but noted bureaucratic delays, rigid business plans, and reporting burdens. In contrast, DSI-DFF was valued for flexibility, rapid access to cash via prepaid cards, and simplified reporting, enabling timely micro-procurement, outreach, and caregiver-facing interventions that generated demand. The two mechanisms were perceived as complementary: BHCPF ensured structural stability, while DSI-DFF enhanced responsiveness and operational agility. Reported limitations of DSI-DFF included modest grant size, duplicated reporting, equity concerns, and sustainability risks if donor support ceased. The study highlights the BHCPF as the essential statutory backbone for primary health care, securing system-wide accountability and stewardship. However, responsiveness is often constrained by bureaucratic delays and rigid guidelines. In contrast, DSI-DFF demonstrates that flexible, facility-controlled financing enhances operational readiness and demand generation. To build a resilient system, this study recommends integrating DSI-DFF’s adaptive features—specifically rapid digital disbursement and autonomy—into the BHCPF framework. This harmonisation balances structural stability with the operational agility required to advance Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.

Brucellosis is a neglected, reportable, and under-reported zoonosis that poses a significant public health challenge in endemic countries like Nigeria. In this study, the risk perception was assessed and 103 pyretic patients from three local government areas of Kwara State, Nigeria were screened by using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and confirmed the analytical sensitivity through real-time PCR (qPCR). We further screened 150 cattle and 52 goats from within a 1-km radius of pyretic patients to determine disease burden in domestic animal reservoirs. Our findings revealed that most of the farmers have heard of brucellosis (89.3%, n = 92/103) while 38.8% (n = 40/103) reported they could identify the symptoms of brucellosis in their herds. The most important risk factors were the consumption of raw milk (92.2%, n = 95/103) and animal abortion within the last year (19.4%, n = 20/103). Also, most study participants (94.2%, n = 97/103) did not believe that they could be infected with the disease. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans was 5.8% (n = 6/103) and there was 100% concordance between the results of the RBPT and qPCR in humans. The seroprevalence was 18% and 25% in cattle and goats respectively. The qPCR revealed a lower prevalence rate of 11.3% and 15.4% in cattle and goats respectively. There was high discordance in sensitivity between the RBPT and qPCR in animal samples screened, although both tests had an analytical specificity of 100%. There was no association between awareness and positivity for brucellosis among the study participants and none of the sociodemographic variables significantly influenced the brucellosis positivity rate of humans. Public health physicians and community health workers should consider brucellosis as a differential diagnosis when clerking pyretic patients. In addition, we advocate for mass animal vaccinations and public education with an emphasis on identified risks.

Objective: The emergence and spread of AMR pathogens pose a public health threat. This study determined the incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli using the ATLAS global dataset from 64 countries on 6 continents between 2004 and 2022. Result: Our findings revealed that 26.6 % (n = 30,102/113,139) of the isolates expressed phenotypic MDR profiles, whereas ESBL production was detected in 18.79 % (n = 21,264/113,139). The annual incidence of MDR and ESBL-producing E. coli per 1,000 population per year was, respectively, 12.38 and 12.95 cases in Africa, 12.93 and 4.88 cases in Oceania, 14.41 and 17.16 cases in Asia, 15.36 and 15.22 cases in North America, 15.48 and 11.78 cases in South America, and 15.66 and 9.11 cases in Europe. The hierarchical model revealed that the economic status (lower-middle income, aOR: 1.14; 95 % CI:1.06, 1.23), continent (South America, aOR: 1.21; 95 % CI:1.07, 1.37), and unrestricted over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics (aOR: 1.10; 95 % CI: 1.02, 1.18) were significantly associated with the occurrence of an MDR phenotype. The factors that predicted ESBL production were the economic status (upper-middle income, aOR: 1.40; 95 %CI: 1.29, 1.52), human development index (medium, aOR:1.57; 95 %CI: 1.44, 1.70), continent (Asia, aOR: 3.02; 95 % CI: 2.75, 3.31), lower healthcare expenditure (<5 % of GDP)(aOR:0.52; 95 %CI: 0.48, 0.56), gross national product of US $10,000-30,000 (aOR: 1.36; 95 %CI:1.17, 1.58), and OTC sale of antibiotics (aOR: 3.27; 95 % CI: 2.99, 3.57). Conclusion: This study provided a global overview of MDR and ESBL-producing E. coli, as well as their associated factors. There are serious data gaps in many low-and middle-income settings, emphasizing the need to strengthen the microbiological laboratory capacity, diagnostic stewardship, and data management systems.

BackgroundCoxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q fever in humans, a zoonosis of increasingly important public health concern. The disease results in significant economic losses to livestock farmers and its presence in ready-to-eat dairy products poses a public health threat to consumers. AimThis study aimed to detect Coxiella burnetii in dairy products in Kwara State, Nigeria. MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the apparent and true prevalence of C. burnetii in dairy cattle in selected local government areas (LGAs) of Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 51 traditional Fulani transhumance farms were sampled across three regions: 27 farms in Ifelodun LGA, 9 in Ilorin East LGA, and 15 in Moro LGA. Four pooled milk samples were collected aseptically from lactating cows on each farm, totaling 204 milk samples. We screened the pathogen using real-time PCR that targeted the IS1111 element in the 51 pooled raw milk samples from selected farms and 18 cheese samples from rural markets within the study area. ResultsThe overall apparent prevalence of C. burnetii in milk and cheese was 18.8%. Both dairy products showed similar prevalence with a relatively higher positivity rate in cheese (22.2%, n = 4/18) than in raw milk samples (17.6%, n = 9/51). There were significant differences in the burden of C. burnetii in milk between the three LGAs with higher prevalence in Moro LGA (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe presence of C. burnetii in dairy products poses a direct risk of milk-borne zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Public education for the stakeholders in the dairy value chain should be intensified and the public should desist from consumption of unpasteurized milk. More molecular studies are needed to further study and characterize the C. burnetii genotypes in Nigeria.

The COVID-19 testing status and vaccine acceptance are two key components of any COVID-19 control program as they are important in evaluating the prevalence of the disease as well as curbing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Hence, the aim of this study was to conduct a non-probability cross-sectional survey of COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Gombe State to determine their testing status and socio-demographic profiles. A total of 872 vaccine recipients were included in this study. The descriptive analysis revealed that the median age group was 30–39 years. More than half (57.7

Decision-makers in animal health require reliable, evidence-based, timely, yet sensitive data to design disease contingency and preparedness plans, make informed decisions, and prioritize health interventions. Using Nigeria-specific animal health disease reports from the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), a global animal disease reporting platform, between 2006 and 2023, we conducted descriptive statistics to summarize the animal disease burden. We used a zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model to forecast annual estimates of new outbreaks for the top 10 most reported diseases [Newcastle disease (NCD), infectious bursal disease (IBD), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), fowl typhoid, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), foot and mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), rabies, and trypanosomiasis]. We analyzed 3362 official reports that were retrieved from the WAHIS platform and represented 9331 outbreaks of notifiable disease events that occurred in Nigeria. In summary, our analyses revealed that 3,248,945 cases and 4,911,495 culls were linked to the outbreaks, and ~2.2 million doses of vaccines were administered to animals. The most frequently reported non-zoonotic diseases were IBD (446 outbreaks) in poultry, PPR (2836 outbreaks) in small ruminants, and 642 outbreaks of CBPP in cattle. During the period under review, 3822 outbreaks (10 diseases) were reported to be zoonotic. Based on the animal species, there were 10 poultry diseases with HPAI (1230 outbreaks), NCD (1605 outbreaks), and fowl typhoid (241 outbreaks) being most frequently reported. In cattle, there were 11 diseases, with CBPP (642 outbreaks) and trypanosomiasis (233 outbreaks) being the most prevalent. The data revealed spatial variations in disease burden, with 20.7% (1934 outbreaks) reported from North Central Nigeria. Using data from 2006 to 2023, our model forecasted an increasing annual trend in the number of NCD outbreaks from 413 (95% CI: 246-679) in 2025 to 772 (95% CI: 473-1283) by 2030. There was a moderate increase in forecasted estimates for the vaccine-preventable diseases, rabies and FMD. The model forecasted some 68 FMD outbreaks (95% CI: 25-146) in 2025 and 144 (95% CI: 58-295) outbreaks by 2030 and Nigeria should plan against some 157 rabies outbreaks (95% CI: 79-289) in 2025, and this could rise to 252 outbreaks (95% CI: 133-457) by 2030. Outbreaks of ASF and the protozoan, tsetse-fly-transmitted disease trypanosomiasis were forecasted to have steady but slower increases, with ASF outbreaks estimated to range from 18 (95% CI: 5-46) in 2025 to 38 (95% CI: 13-93) by 2030y. Some 52 (95% CI: 19-112) outbreaks of the trypanosomiasis were forecasted for 2025. This is expected to increase to 95 (95% CI: 37-201) by 2030. The model estimated fewer than 10 (95% CI: 1-9) cases of HPAI annually. Finally, the model forecasted a modest but consistent rise in outbreaks of CBPP and fowl typhoid and a sharp increase in the outbreaks of PPR and IBD through 2030, mirroring gradual re-expansion across the country. Our findings underscore the high animal disease burden in Nigeria despite potential underreporting, necessitating enhanced animal disease prevention and control strategies and increased investment in veterinary healthcare infrastructure. To ease the disease burden, Nigeria should implement syndromic surveillance, invest in regional diagnostic capacities, train community animal health workers, and establish an transdisciplinary One Health approach to disease surveillance.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease with worldwide distribution. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the serological prevalence of brucellosis in horses within Kano Metropolis. A total of 328 serum samples were collected for the study. Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT) was conducted on all the samples while the Serum Agglutination Test with EDTA (SAT-EDTA) was conducted on the mRBPT-positive samples. The prevalence of brucellosis in horses within the Kano metropolis was found to be 24.09 % (79/328) and 11.89 % (39/328) with mRBPT and SAT-EDTA respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the seropositivity by the tests used. From the study, 37 (23.27%) out of the 159 mares were seropositive for Brucella antibodies using mRBPT while 16 (43.24 %) were positive using SAT-EDTA. Similarly, of the 169 stallions, 38 (22.4 %) were positive using mRBPT and of these 22(57.89 %) were further positive by using SAT-EDTA. Unlike the age and use of the horses; location, sex, and breed were not significantly associated with the seroprevalence rate obtained in the study using mRBPT P<0.05. This study showed that Brucella antibodies were circulating in the horses in the study area. Further study is recommended to determine the Brucella species circulating in these horses, particularly that brucellosis is zoonotic with serious public health significance. There is also the need to examine the horse owners and grooms for possible Brucella antibodies because equine brucellosis has serious public health significance.

Anaplasmosis, a disease caused by various species of Anaplasma, poses important economic constraints to animal breeders. In Zaria, molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens infecting cattle is very sketchy. Being hematophagous, ticks are capable of transmitting disease agents such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This study was carried out to detect for the presence of Anaplasma pathogen in the various tick species infesting white Fulani breeds of cattle owing to their high population in Zaria and environs using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Three hundred and eighty-four (n=384) white Fulani breed of cattle of varying age and sex were sampled from 32 herds in 4 villages (Bomo, Tofu, Ungwan Dabosa and Majeru). The DNA was extracted using Qiagen commercial kit following manufacturer’s instructions. Genomic DNA of the species of ticks was amplified in a semi-nested PCR targeting the 16S rRNA fragment of the Anaplasma spp at expected amplicon size of 711bp. The PCR products were purified using Gel Extraction Kit (Bioland, Scientific LLC) following the manufacturer’s protocol. All sequences were subjected to a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to determined their identities and assess their homologues and similarities to those in the GenBank. A neighbor-joining tree was generated using the Molecular Engineering Genetic Analysis (MEGA 7.0) to derive the close relationship between the isolates. The result of this study implies that Anaplasma spp (MN044909) is present in all the five species of ticks infesting cattle in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria and pose a high risk on humans and animals health. Anaplasmosis, a disease caused by various species of Anaplasma, poses important economic constraints to animal breeders. In Zaria, molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens infecting cattle is very sketchy. Being hematophagous, ticks are capable of transmitting disease agents such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This study was carried out to detect for the presence of Anaplasma pathogen in the various tick species infesting white Fulani breeds of cattle owing to their high population in Zaria and environs using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Three hundred and eighty-four (n=384) white Fulani breed of cattle of varying age and sex were sampled from 32 herds in 4 villages (Bomo, Tofu, Ungwan Dabosa and Majeru). The DNA was extracted using Qiagen commercial kit following manufacturer’s instructions. Genomic DNA of the species of ticks was amplified in a semi-nested PCR targeting the 16S rRNA fragment of the Anaplasma spp at expected amplicon size of 711bp. The PCR products were purified using Gel Extraction Kit (Bioland, Scientific LLC) following the manufacturer’s protocol. All sequences were subjected to a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to determined their identities and assess their homologues and similarities to those in the GenBank. A neighbor-joining tree was generated using the Molecular Engineering Genetic Analysis (MEGA 7.0) to derive the close relationship between the isolates. The result of this study implies that Anaplasma spp (MN044909) is present in all the five species of ticks infesting cattle in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria and pose a high risk on humans and animals health.

Background: The close relationship between dogs and humans and the possibility of intestinal parasite transmission from dogs to humans calls for frequent assessment of these potential zoonotic intestinal parasites in dogs and the possibility of their transmission to humans. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the presence, intensity of infection, and public health perception of potentially zoonotic intestinal parasites in dogs of Kwara Central, Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted in 28 locations in Kwara Central Senatorial District of Kwara State, Nigeria. Three hundred and five healthy dogs were sampled. Two hundred and thirty respondents (dog owners or handlers) were questioned using a well-structured questionnaire containing open-ended and closed-ended questions. Fecal samples from the sampled dogs were subjected to the direct fecal smear technique, simple fecal centrifugation flotation technique, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Oocysts or eggs per gram of feces were counted using the modified McMaster technique. Results: Seven different intestinal parasites (Ancylostoma spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Dipylidium caninum, Isospora spp., Strongyloides stercoralis, Toxocara spp., and Uncinaria stenocephala) were detected, with a prevalence ranging from 2.30% to 25.25%. Of these parasites, 6 were zoonotic. The mean intensities of infection were 91.43 eggs per gram (EPG) for D. caninum¸ 96.52 EPG for S. stercoralis, 129.36 ±28.12 oocysts per gram (OPG) for Isospora spp., 165.17±19.88 for Toxocara spp., 240.00±44.42 for EPG for U. stenocephala, and 303.64±31.83 EPG for Ancylostoma spp. Some dog owners and handlers were not cautious about possible zoonotic parasite transmission from dogs. Conclusion: Zoonotic intestinal parasites of dogs are present and prevalent in Kwara Central, Nigeria. There is a need to educate the public on the possibility of zoonotic parasite transmission to humans.

Despite increasing reports of tick-borne diseases in Africa, remarkably, reports of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in Nigeria are lacking. Ornithodoros savignyi from Nigeria have been reported with the relapsing fever Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica. Conversely, in Ethiopia, the agent of relapsing fever is the louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) spirochaete Borrelia recurrentis with no TBRF reported to occur. A total of 389 Ornithodoros ticks, Ethiopia (N = 312) and Nigeria (N = 77), were sampled, together with 350 cattle, and 200 goat sera were collected from Nigeria. Samples were screened for Borrelia spp. by RT-PCR. Reactive samples were confirmed, then sequenced using flagellin B, 16S rRNA, and 16S–23S intergenic spacer region. The prevalence of Borrelia spp. in livestock was 3.8% (21/550) and 14% (3/21) after final molecular confirmation. Of 312 ticks from Ethiopia, 3.5% (11/312) were positive for Borrelia, with 36% (4/11) by conventional PCR. Sequencing revealed that the borreliae in soft ticks was C. B. kalaharica, whilst that found in animals was Borrelia theileri. Soft ticks were confirmed by sequencing 7% (22/312) and 12% (9/77) of the Ethiopian and Nigerian ticks, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these were Ornithodoros savignyi. This is the first evidence of C. B. kalaharica in Ethiopia and demonstrates the co-existence of TBRF in a country endemic to LBRF. Important, this might cause a diagnostic challenge given that LBRF is predominantly diagnosed by microscopy, which cannot differentiate these two spirochaetes. Furthermore, we report B. theileri in ruminants in Nigeria, which may also be of veterinary and economic importance.

The attainment of the global target of zero dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 depends on functional rabies programmes. Nigeria, a rabies-endemic country, and the most populous country in Africa has a very poor rabies control strategy with a score of 1.5 out of 5 based on the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE). In this article, we report a scoping review that we conducted to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as situational analysis of rabies control in Nigeria and suggest a timeline for key activities that are needed to ensure zero by 30. Our findings reveal that rabies is grossly under-reported as only 998 human and 273 dog-suspected rabies cases were reported across Nigeria between 2017 and 2022. Our literature review also demonstrates a paucity of information on rabies in both human and animal health sectors. A total of 49 studies on dog rabies in Nigeria, with a predominance of reports from the North Central geopolitical region (48%, n = 23) were therefore included in this study. Currently, only 16.2% (n = 6/37) of Nigerian states have available data related to the estimated dog populations, the dog ownership rates, the vaccination status of dogs or the incidence of dog bites. Based on a dog-to-human ratio of 1:16.3, we estimated that the dog population in Nigeria was 12,969,368 (95% CI: 12,320,900-13,617,836). Thus, to attain herd immunity and dog rabies control in Nigeria, at least 9.1 million dogs must be vaccinated annually. Our review reveals that, despite the strengths and available opportunities to achieve rabies control in Nigeria by 2030, the weaknesses and challenges will make the attainment of zero by 30 very difficult or impossible. Nigeria's best-case scenario by the year 2030 is SARE stage 3-4 (control-elimination) out of 5. Otherwise, the rabies control programme might not surpass SARE stages 2-3. To attain zero by 30, Nigeria must re-strategize its current rabies control programme by funding and implementing the national strategic plan for rabies control, creating a rabies desk office in the 37 states (FCT inclusive), rigorously conducting mass vaccination campaigns, providing post-exposure prophylaxis, prioritizing mass enlightenment with a focus on responsible pet ownership and conduct baseline national rabies surveillance in the animal and human health sectors.

Fruits and vegetables are sources of parasitic infections in humans. This study was designed to determine the epidemiology of parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables, and water, as well as the perception of retailers, buyers, and consumers about its contamination in Kwara Central, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was employed for this study. A total of 160 fruits, 349 vegetables, and 51 water samples were randomly purchased/collected from thirty different markets. The samples were subjected to sedimentation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. All the types of fruits and vegetables sampled were contaminated with one or more parasites. Eleven different species of zoonotic parasites (6 protozoans and 5 helminths) were detected. Entamoeba coli (39.8%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (9.6%) were the most prevalent protozoan and helminth respectively. The prevalence of other protozoan parasites ranged between 21.3% (Entamoeba histolytica) and 2.3% (Balantidium coli), while that of helminths was between 5.7% (Ascaris lumbricoides) and 2.1% (Trichuris trichiura). Source of fruits and vegetables, source of manure for cultivation, the source of water for washing/wetting purpose, market type, washing of fruits and vegetables before display, the presence of children at home and in the market, and knowledge of parasitic contamination were the risk factors associated (P<0.05) with parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables among sellers. There is a need to educate the general public on the possibilities of parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables and its public health implications.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health crisis. However, there is a paucity of data on anti-protozoal resistance (APR), especially in animals. Hence, we assessed the knowledge of prudent antiprotozoal drug usage (APU) and resistance among animal health practitioners (AHPs) in Kwara State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 435 AHPs was performed in Kwara State from the 5th of March to the 31st of July 2020 using a structured and validated questionnaire. We used logistic regression analysis to identify socio-demographic factors that are associated with the satisfactory perception of prudent APU and good knowledge of APR among AHPs. Our findings showed that 80.2% (n = 349) of the AHPs in Kwara state had a good knowledge of APR with a mean knowledge score of 5.8 ± 1.2. In the same vein, 75.6% (n = 329) of the AHPs had a satisfactory perception of prudent APU with a mean score of 3.84 ± 1.21. Only 10.1% of the AHPs had observed treatment failures after the use of anti-protozoal drugs. Most of the AHPs (75.6%) believed that APR poses a significant threat to animal production and health globally. Logistic regression analysis showed that female AHPs were more likely (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 0.91, 5.20; p < 0.005) to have better knowledge of APR than their male counterparts. AHPs with tertiary education were likely (OR: 2.77; 95% CI: 0.96, 4.99; p < 0.05) to be more knowledgeable about APR and have satisfactory perceptions of APU (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.99; p = 0.07) respectively. Finally, veterinarians were 3.76 times (95% CI:1.26, 9.25; p < 0.001) more likely to have good knowledge of APR and better perceptions of APU (OR: 3.28; 95% CI: 1.89, 5.68; p < 0.001) than other AHPs respectively. To control antimicrobial resistance, continuous training of AHPs especially para-veterinary officers is essential to update their knowledge on prudent antimicrobial usage and prevent the emergence of resistant protozoan parasites.

Rabies is an endemic, highly fatal, and vaccine-preventable disease with severe socio-economic implications. Most (99%) human rabies cases are transmitted through dog bites. Children under 15 years account for 40% of all dog bite victims and 35-50% of all rabies deaths. Rabies awareness among this vulnerable group is critical to rabies prevention. However, there is a paucity of data on rabies awareness among pupils under 15. Hence, this study assessed the awareness and attitude of pupils under 15 years towards canine rabies in Kwara state in Nigeria. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey of 1,388 pupils across the state using a structured questionnaire that was administered as a one-on-one interview using the Open Data Kit on Android phones in December 2019. Of the 1388 pupils included in this study, only 21.7% (n = 301) of them were aware of rabies. The mean rabies score was 1.7±0.8 and only 29.2% (n = 88/301) of the pupils had adequate knowledge of canine rabies. The dog ownership rate was 18.7% (n = 259) with an average of 1.93 dogs per household. Approximately 5% (n = 66) of the pupils have been previously bitten by a dog. One-third of the dog bite victims (35%, n = 23/66) were managed and treated at home and only 12% (n = 8/66) were treated in a health facility. The result of the multivariable logistic regression showed that students aged between 13-15 years were more likely (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 0.72-3.01; p < 0.001) to have adequate knowledge of rabies than the younger pupils. Similarly, pupils that have dogs in their households (OR: 2.09; 95%CI: 1.49-2.75; p < 0.001) and those that reside in Kwara South (OR:1.78 95% CI:1.29, 2.44; p < 0.001) were more likely to be aware and have adequate knowledge of canine rabies respectively. Finally, Pupils from non-dog-owning households were more likely (OR:2.2; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.42; p < 0.001) to have been bitten by dogs than those from dog-owning households. The awareness and attitude of pupils under 15 to canine rabies was poor. We advocate the introduction of rabies lessons into the school curriculum in Kwara State to reduce the incidence of dog bites and prevent dog-mediated human rabies.

Background:The public knowledge and adherence to the established coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precautionary measures are crucial to Nigeria's war against the pandemic. Public health education on its preventive practices at the grassroots level was initially crucial to achieving a lower COVID-19 incidence in Kwara State, Nigeria.Methods:We assessed the knowledge of, and adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures at the community level among 795 respondents from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State.Results:54.5% (433/795) of the respondents were aged between 21 and 40 years, and 45.9% (365/795) of the respondents had a bachelor's degree or higher. Study participants had a good knowledge of COVID-19, its symptoms, and its mode of transmission. 91.8% of the respondents (730/795) had a positive perception of the COVID-19 preventive measures while 96.1% (763/795) of the respondents agreed that maintaining social distance was important in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, only 38% (302/795) of them used face masks and only 25.7% (204/795) of the respondents used hand sanitizers. In addition, only 31.9% (253/795) of the respondents isolated themselves when they were ill. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis revealed that education, occupation, gender, and ethnicity were significantly associated with positive COVID-19 preventive practices among residents of Kwara State. Civil servants were more likely (AOR: 3.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67 to 14.82; P = 0.034) to have positive preventive attitudes than other respondents. Study participants with tertiary education and those that were Yoruba (ethnicity) were 14.81 times more likely (95% CI: 4.29 to 51.05; P = 0.001) and 5.19 times more likely (95% CI: 1.82 to 14.84; P = 0.007) to have positive attitudes towards the laid-down COVID-19 preventive measures respectively.Conclusion:The poor community adherence to the COVID-19 preventive practices could pre-dispose Kwara to more COVID-19 cases. More community engagement activities are needed to fully curb the spread of the COVID-19. Public health education should focus on preventive measures, vaccine acceptance, and community monitoring of COVID-19.

Introduction the on-going COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has imposed serious public health and economic threats on the entire world population. The SARS-CoV-2 has been identified from both domestic and wild animals constituting a threat to humans since most apparently healthy animals may potentially infect and cause the disease in humans, especially Animal Health Professionals (AHPs) who come directly in contact with animals. These professionals such as veterinarians play important roles among the One Health team in controlling the pandemic. This survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, risk perception, and prevention behaviors of AHPs in Nigeria who are important personnel in the control of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and infectious diseases. Methods an online-based epidemiological cross-sectional pre-tested questionnaire survey was carried out from April to May 2020. A total of 427 AHPs joined this survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the data collected. Results the respondents have a mean knowledge score of 7.34 ± 2.05 (from a total possible score of 11) with the majority (66.7%, n = 285) having satisfactory knowledge scores on COVID-19. A high proportion (240/353) of respondents reported bats to be the major wildlife incriminated in the transmission of the COVID-19 virus though other animals reported were tiger, monkey, lion, and pangolin. At least, a quarter 131 (30.7%) of respondents perceived that visiting live animal markets is of high zoonotic risk to the spread of coronavirus. Most respondents reported hands washing and sanitizing after handling animals, and using personal protective equipment when handling suspected animals. At p<0.05; respondents' age, marital status, professional status, and geopolitical zone were significantly linked with satisfactory knowledge. Veterinarians (OR=0.40; 95%CI: 0.22–0.75) were thrice less likely to possess unsatisfactory knowledge of COVID-19 than laboratory technologists. Conclusion participants in this survey have a satisfactory level of COVID-19 knowledge and good mitigation measures instituted while working at their stations. However, AHPs need more enlightenment about the various zoonotic risk pathway contributing to the transmission of COVID-19.

Background: The death toll and economic disaster caused by SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 is still on the rise globally and in Africa with a case fatality ratio (CFR), 2.58 from 220,958 deaths out of 8,556,890 cases recorded across the continent as of 14th November 2021. Local, national and international health agencies have advocated multi-pronged public health strategies to limit infections and prevent deaths. The availability of a safe and effective vaccine is critical in the control of a pandemic. Several adverse events have been reported globally for different vaccines including COVID-19 with limited or no data from Africa. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study investigated the adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in Africans between April- June, 2021 using a structured questionnaire distributed via the web for public health surveillance. Results: Out of the 1200 participants recruited, a total of 80.8% (n = 969) respondents from 35 countries including 22 African countries and 13 countries where Africans live in the diaspora reported different adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. More than half of the vaccinee were male (53.0%) and frontline healthcare workers (55.7%), respectively. A total of 15.6% (n = 151) reported previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 while about one-fourth, 24.8% (n = 240) reported different underlying health conditions prior to vaccination. Fatal cases were 5.1% (n = 49) while other significant heterogenous events were reported in three categories: very common, common, and uncommon adverse events including enlarged lymph nodes 2.4% (n = 23), menstrual disorder 0.5% (n = 5), and increased libido 0.2% (n = 2). Conclusions: The study provided useful data for concerned authorities and institutions to prepare plans that will address issues related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was in February 2020. The pandemic has resulted in severe social, economic, and public health challenge in Nigeria. Nigeria has experienced pandemic fatigue (PF) characterized by its low testing capacity, poor public adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, and the urge to return to normal. This viewpoint examines Nigeria's obvious PF amongst Nigerians and believed that community engagement would be a master key to reducing Nigeria's PF and preventing another wave of the pandemic in Nigeria. Community engagement (CE) is a viable way for monitoring the spread of the SARS-CoV-2. CE is cost-effective, improves the chances of people voluntarily presenting themselves for COVID-19 testing at the grass-root level, and could halt the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria especially with the detection of the delta and omicron variants in Nigeria.

Understanding key socio-demographic variables of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recipients is crucial to improving its acceptance and Nigeria's COVID-19 control strategy. The survey was conducted as a non-probability cross-sectional survey of 2,936 COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Kwara State. Our findings revealed that 74% (n = 2,161) of the vaccine recipients were older than 40 years. Forty percent (n = 1,180) of the vaccine recipients earned a monthly income >100,000 Naira (equivalent to US $200). Most of the vaccine recipients (64%, n = 1,880) had tertiary education, while 15% (n = 440) of them had no formal education. Almost half of the recipients (47%, n = 1,262) were government employees and 28.8% (n = 846) of them had health-related backgrounds. Only 17% (n = 499) of the vaccine recipients have been screened for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which 21% (n = 105/499) of them were tested positive. Only 47% (n = 1,378) had been fully immunized. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 cases among COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Kwara State was 3.6% (n = 105/2,936). The most recurrent adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) among vaccine recipients were fever (14%, n = 411), pain at injection site (47%, n = 1,409), headache (19%, n = 558), and body weakness (9%, n = 264). The need to protect themselves from the deadly virus was the main reason that prompted people to voluntarily accept the COVID-19 vaccine. There is a high level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among respondents across all social classes including those with no formal education, those with very low monthly income (< US $2 per day), and in untested population. Hence, vaccine donors should prioritize equitable distribution to Low-and-Middle-income Countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria, and health authorities should improve vaccine advocacy to focus on vaccine safety and efficacy.