Nigerian health officials have confirmed four additional monkeypox cases since our last report earlier this month, bringing the total cases in the outbreak to 42.

Monkeypox Image/CDC
Monkeypox Image/CDC

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the new confirmed cases were reported from n Cross River (2), Imo (1) and Delta (1) states.

Laboratory investigation by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Abuja has so far confirmed 42 cases of monkeypox in ten states (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Rivers) and the FCT.

142 suspect cases have been reported from 21 states since the outbreak began and health officials report a decline in the number of new suspected cases reported over the last three weeks. 9 of 12 monkeypox negative swab samples tested positive for chickenpox, according to the NCDC.

LISTEN: Monkeypox Flashback: 2003 outbreak in the US

Monkeypox is a largely self-limiting disease i.e. a disease that resolves itself. Generalized vesicular skin rashes, fever, and painful jaw swelling are characteristic symptoms associated with an infection. Although there is no specific medicine to treat the disease, when intensive supportive care is provided virtually all patients recover fully, as we have seen with the current outbreak.

People at risk for monkeypox are those who get bitten by an infected animal or if you have contact with the animal’s rash, blood or body fluids. It can also be transmitted person to person through respiratory or direct contact and contact with contaminated bedding or clothing.

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