The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on May 26, 2022 activated Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre.
NCDC said that the activation of the national multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre for Monkeypox (MPX-EOC) at level 2 is “to strengthen and coordinate ongoing response activities in-country while contributing to the global response.”
It added that the decision 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.”
A total of 21 cases of money pox has been confirmed in Nigeria as at May 29, 2022 with one death, in 9 states and the FCT, NCDC said.
Details of the case are as follows: Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Bayelsa (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Imo (1), Rivers (1). The reported death was a “40-year-old patient who had underlying co-morbidity and was on immunosuppressive medications,” NCDC said.
“Among the 21 cases reported in 2022 so far, there has been no evidence of any new or unusual transmission of the virus, nor changes in its clinical manifestation documented (including symptoms, profile and virulence).”
“Although Nigeria’s risk of exposure to the Monkeypox virus is high based on the recent risk assessment conducted at NCDC,”it added, “the current situation in-country and globally has shown no significant threat to life or the community that can result in severe disease or high case fatality rate.
“The EOC will continue to monitor the evolving situation to inform public health action accordingly.”
“Symptoms of monkeypox include sudden fever, headache, body pain, weakness, sore throat, enlargement of glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and under the jaw, followed by the appearance of a rash (often solid or fluid-filled at the onset) on the face, palms, soles of the feet, genitals and other parts of the body.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
