NCDC says monkeypox has spread to 15 states, cases now 36

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 36 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country.

The NCDC disclosed this in its latest monkeypox situation report.

According to the NCDC, the disease has been confirmed in Lagos (7), Adamawa (5), Delta (3), River (3), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Bayelsa (2), Edo (2), Imo (2), Plateau (2), Nasarawa (1), Niger (1), Oyo (1) and Ondo (1).

The agency noted that from January 1 to June 12, 2022, there had been 141 suspected cases so far.

It said, “There were 31 new suspected cases reported in Epi week 23, 2022 (June 6 to 12, 2022) from 13 states – Lagos (5), Katsina (4), Ondo (4), Bayelsa (4), Nasarawa (3), Ogun (3), Oyo (2), Akwa Ibom (1) Delta (1), Edo (1), Kaduna (1), Kano (1), and Imo (1).

“There were four new positive cases in Epi week 23, 2022 from four states – Lagos (1), Delta (1), Oyo (1), and Nasarawa (1).

“From January 1 to June 12, 2022, there have been 141 suspected cases in total and 36 confirmed cases from 15 states – Lagos (7), Adamawa (5), Delta (3), River (3), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Bayelsa (2), Edo (2), Imo (2), Plateau (2), Nasarawa (1), Niger (1), Oyo (1) and Ondo (1). One death was recorded in a 40-year-old man with co-morbidity that was receiving immunosuppressive drugs.”

According to the NCDC, Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans that occur sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

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“It is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (the cause of smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the vaccine for smallpox eradication), and cowpox virus (used in earlier smallpox vaccines). Following the eradication of smallpox, monkeypox virus has emerged as the most important Orthopoxvirus.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that the monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding. The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from six to 13 days but can range from five to 21 days.

WHO says various animal species have been identified as susceptible to the monkeypox virus.

“Uncertainty remains on the natural history of the monkeypox virus and further studies are needed to identify the exact reservoir(s) and how virus circulation is maintained in nature. Eating inadequately cooked meat and other animal products of infected animals is a possible risk factor,” the WHO said.