During the week ending Nov 25, Nigerian health officials reported 14 new confirmed monkeypox cases in the outbreak that began in September, bringing the total confirmed cases to 56.

Monkeypox/CDC
Monkeypox/CDC

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the new cases were reported in the following states: Benue (1), Cross River (3), Edo (1), FCT (2), Imo (2), Katsina (1), Nasarawa (1) and Rivers (3).

Three (3) new States (Imo, Katsina and Nasarawa) recorded confirmed cases in the reporting week

There has been a decline in the number of new suspected cases reported over the last four weeks. Since the onset of the outbreak, a total of 155 cases (suspected and confirmed) have been recorded from 21 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

No death attributable to monkeypox has been recorded to date.

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According to the CDC, the symptoms of monkeypox are as follows: About 12 days after people are infected with the virus, they will get a fever, headache, muscle aches, and backache; their lymph nodes will swell; and they will feel tired. One to 3 days (or longer) after the fever starts, they will get a rash. This rash develops into raised bumps filled with fluid and often starts on the face and spreads, but it can start on other parts of the body too. The bumps go through several stages before they get crusty, scab over, and fall off. The illness usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.

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Rodents, such as rope squirrels, door mice and pouched rats, are the suspected reservoir hosts, with monkeys and humans as secondary, spill-over hosts.

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.

There is no specific treatment for monkeypox.

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