Monkey Pox Scourge Spreads To Seven States
The
National Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, has said that 31 suspected cases of
the monkeypox virus have been recorded in seven states.
They
include Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River states.
Monkey pox is a rare a viral zoonotic disease that
occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rain
forests. Its symptoms are very similar to that of smallpox.
The NCDC National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Chikwe
Ihekweazu, in a statement on Monday said the agency was awaiting the laboratory
results and confirmation of the 31 suspected cases.
“So
far, there have been no deaths recorded,” the NCDC chief executive, Chikwe
Ihekweazu, said in a statement on Monday.
“It
is unlikely that many of the suspected cases are actually monkeypox, but all
are being investigated.”
The
centre said samples had been collected for laboratory confirmation and results
are yet to return.
“All
the suspected cases are currently receiving appropriate medical care, and the
patients are all improving clinically in their various states,” Mr. Ihekweazu
said.
The
federal government had on Sunday described as fake and sinister a report that
the outbreak of monkey pox in some parts of the country resulted from the
alleged free medical care by the government in the affected areas.
The
recent incident of the virus was first reported in Bayelsa last week with a
medical doctor and 10 others quarantined.
Samples
from suspected victims in Bayelsa and Rivers have been sent to the World Health
Organisation, WHO laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation.
Read
the full text of the NCDC statement below.
Following
the notification of a suspected monkeypox outbreak on the 22nd of September,
2017 in Bayelsa State, other suspected cases have been reported from six more
States, bringing the total number of suspected cases so far to 31 across 7
States – Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River States.
Samples
have been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation.
Results are still awaited. So far, there have been no deaths recorded.
It
is unlikely that many of the suspected cases are actually monkeypox, but all
are being investigated. All the suspected cases are currently receiving
appropriate medical care, and the patients are all improving clinically in
their various States.
The
Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC) is supporting the affected States to ensure the outbreak is brought
under control and to limit further spread. NCDC has activated an Emergency
Operation Centre (EOC) to coordinate the outbreak investigation and response
across the affected States.
The
EOC is currently supporting State Ministries of Health in their response to the
outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact
tracing.
Measures
have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and testing to
enable laboratory confirmation. Risk communication activities have been
heightened to advise the public on preventive measures.
All
36 States and the FCT have been notified for preparedness. In light of the
above, it is important to be reminded that monkey pox is a rare viral zoonotic disease with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in smallpox patients, but
much less severe and with a low fatality rate.
Transmission
is via contact with infected animal, human, or contaminated materials.
Animal-to-human transmission occurs through bite or scratch from animals and
bush meat preparation.
It
can also be transmitted from one person to another. Human-to-human transmission
occurs through respiratory droplets, contact with infected persons or
contaminated materials. Control measures include isolation of suspected or
confirmed cases, strict adherence to universal precautions, especially frequent hand washing with soap and water, and use of personal protective equipment.
Signs
and symptoms include fever, headache, body pain, malaise, lymphadenopathy
(enlargement of glands), sore throat, the characteristic generalized vesicular
rash. The rashes might last between two to four weeks. Monkeypox is self-limiting,
which means patients tend to recover with time. However, supportive care and
management of condition is required and mostly successful.
The
CEO, of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu again
emphasizes that “Nigerians are once advised to remain calm, avoid
self-medication and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.
Public health authorities across the country have been well informed on what to
do when a suspected case arises.”
Monkey Pox Scourge Spreads To Seven States
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on
Thursday, October 12, 2017
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