In a follow-up on the monkeypox situation in Nigeria in 2018, health officials continue to report sporadic cases of monkeypox since the beginning of 2018.
For the period of November 14 – December 13, 2018, the Nigerian CDC saw fifteen new suspected monkeypox cases, of which six confirmed cases were recorded in five states (Rivers -1, Bayelsa -2, Delta -1, Cross Rivers -1, Edo -1).
This brings the 2018 total through mid-December to 114 suspected, 45 confirmed, one probable cases and one death reported last year.
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The 45 cases confirmed were recorded in 13 states (Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Oyo, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Plateau, Abia, Anambra and Nasarawa).
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Since the beginning of the outbreak in September 2017, 311 suspected cases have been reported in 26 states, including 132 confirmed cases in 17 states.
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Health officials also note genetic sequencing suggests multiple sources of introduction of monkeypox virus into the human population with evidence of human to human transmission.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa, often near tropical rainforests. It is spread through contact with the monkeypox virus from an animal or human (alive or dead) or with materials contaminated with the virus.
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Symptoms begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion, and is followed by a rash. Patients are usually ill for 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is fatal in as many as 10% of people who get it.
