The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed a 100% increase in Monkey Pox suspected cases.
According to reports, it rose from 10 suspected cases in April to 20 as at May 2022.
It added that 6 of the cases were confirmed and found across Lagos, Oyo and other states.
According to Nairametrics 2 suspected cases were seen at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Lagos on May 14, 2022.
The 20 new cases were disclosed by the NCDC in its May summary report released on Sunday.
According to the report, the 20 suspected cases were found across 11 states. They are Lagos, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Rivers, Niger, FCT, Delta, Oyo, Kaduna, Edo and Gombe,
Highlights of the May report
- Since September 2017, Nigeria has continued to report sporadic cases of monkeypox (MPX). The monkeypox National Technical Working Group (TWG) has been monitoring cases and strengthening preparedness/response capacity.
- 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 eleven (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).
- From September 2017 to May 29th, 2022, a total of 578 suspected cases have been reported from 32 states in the country.
What the NCDC is saying about the virus
It stated, “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) activated a national multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre for Monkeypox (MPX-EOC) at level 2 to strengthen and coordinate ongoing response activities in-country while contributing to the global response.
“This was based on the report of a preliminary risk assessment done by a group of Subject Matter Experts from the NCDC, relevant government Ministries Departments and Agencies and partner agencies.
“This year, as at 29th May 2022, a total of 21 confirmed cases with one death have been reported from 9 states and the FCT – Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Bayelsa (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Imo (1), Rivers (1). The death was reported in a 40-year-old patient who had underlying co-morbidity and was on immunosuppressive medications.
“Genomic surveillance is ongoing at NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and so far all of the cases have been confirmed to be caused by West Africa clade Monkeypox virus.
