FG assures on ending monkeypox outbreak, as death toll in Nigeria remains 1

Amid reported wild spread of the highly-infectious monkeypox disease across states in the country, with death toll in Nigeria yet at one casualty as reported last month, the Federal Government disclosed that it has put in place all mechanisms to monitor and curb the outbreak of infection causing anxiety around the world.

So far, Spain, United Kingdom and Morocco have confirmed positive cases of the disease in their countries.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this at the inauguration of projects executed by Usman Dan-Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sunday.

The government is monitoring the outbreak and making effort to enlighten the public on the disease and how to prevent its spread.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was committed to improving the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.

“This is a commitment to meet the highest standard found elsewhere in the world, as not everyone has the desire or means to travel abroad for treatment.

“As such, I call on doctors, nurses, and care providers to bear this in mind and commit to the stated objective of excellence in service delivery to our people.

“Government has provided you with the tools we today bear witness to,” he said.

The minister added that this administration has since its inception in 2015, made a point of investing in the health sector through the budgetary provision and special intervention projects.

He called on every Nigerian yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to avail themselves of the vaccination to support the 70 per cent ratio needed for herd immunity and a healthier society.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said last May, that there are no specific treatments available for the monkeypox infection.

The centre also warn Nigerians to take certain measures to prevent contracting the disease.

“There are no specific treatments available for monkeypox infection, although various novel antiviral have in-vitro and animal data supportive effects such as Brincindofocir and Tecovirimat.

“Measures that can be taken to prevent infection with monkeypox virus include, avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus, both sick or dead animals in areas where monkeypox cases have occurred, avoiding contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick animal, thoroughly cooking any animal that might have come into contact with an infected animal, handling them with standard precautions and observing monkeypox symptoms for 30 days and washing with soap and water after contact with infected animals.”

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

The disease, which according to the World Health Organisation, is endemic to West and Central African countries, has surfaced in some European countries.

While the NCDC noted that, 15 out of the 46 suspected cases reported had been confirmed, countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Portugal, Spain, Israel, Lebanon and Canada among others have started to report cases.

The WHO in a statement it released noted that the outbreak of the monkeypox disease is being discovered in countries where it is not endemic.

NCDC had confirmed 10 new positive cases of monkeypox in six states, with 44 new suspected infections reported from May 30 to June 5 from 14 states.

The states with new confirmed cases are Edo (2), Rivers (2), Plateau (2), Lagos (2), Ondo (1) and Imo (1).

“From January 1st to 5th June 2022, there have been 110 suspected cases in total and 31 confirmed cases from twelve (12) states – Adamawa (5), Lagos (6), River (3), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Delta (2), Bayelsa (2), Edo (2), Imo (2), Plateau (2), and Ondo (1).

“One death was recorded in a 40-year-old man with co-morbidity that was receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

“Since September 2017, Nigeria has continued to report sporadic cases of monkeypox (MPX). On May 26th 2022, a monkeypox National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated in response to the risk assessment conducted, which put Nigeria at high risk for a Monkeypox outbreak.

“The essence of the activation was to improve the coordination of related preparedness/response activities across the country.

“Overall and from September 2017 to 5th June 2022, a total of 622 suspected cases have been reported from 33 states in the country.

“Of the reported cases, 257 (41.3%) have been confirmed in 23 states – Rivers (55), Bayelsa (45), Lagos (36), Delta (31), Cross River (16), Edo (12), Imo (10), Akwa Ibom (7), Oyo (6), FCT (8), Plateau (5), Adamawa (5), Enugu (4), Abia (3), Nasarawa (2), Benue (2), Anambra (2), Ekiti (2), Kano (2), Ebonyi (1), Niger (1), Ogun (1) and Ondo (1).

“In addition, from September 2017 to June 5th, 2022, a total of nine (9) deaths have been recorded (CFR= 3.5%) in six states – Lagos (3), Edo (2), Imo (1), Cross River (1), FCT (1) and Rivers (1).”