NCDC Announces One Death, 66 Suspected Monkeypox Cases In Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has stated that no fewer than 66 persons are suspected of having monkeypox disease.

The agency revealed that while 21 cases have been confirmed only 1 death has been reported.

Naija News reports that Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by Monkeypox virus which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

Monkeypox virus is known to spread through close contact with the lesions, bodily fluids and respiratory droplets of infected people or animals

The disease, according to the World Health Organization, is endemic to West and Central African countries.

According to the NCD, “A total of 66 suspected cases have been reported between January 1st to May 29th, 2022. Of the suspected cases, 21 were confirmed from nine (9) states – Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Delta (2), Bayelsa (2), River (1) and Imo (1) – with 1 death recorded. This was in a 40yrs man with renal co-morbidity and on immune-suppressive drugs.

“The twenty (20) new suspected cases in May 2022 were reported from 11 states – Lagos (5), Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Rivers (2), Niger (2), FCT (2), Delta (1), Oyo (1), Kaduna (1), Edo (1) and Gombe (1).

“This is a 100% increase in case reporting as compared with April 2022, when 10 new cases were reported, and is likely due to ongoing efforts to increase awareness and improve surveillance.

“The six (6) new confirmed positive cases (out of the 20 suspected cases) in May 2022 were confirmed from four (4) states – Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Lagos (1), and Rivers (1).”