Nigeria confirms 15 new cases of monkeypox in 10 states

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), yesterday, confirmed 15 new confirmed positive cases of monkeypox in Epi Week 29 from 10 states – Ondo (three); Taraba (two); Lagos (two); Bayelsa (two); Rivers (one); Kogi (one); Imo (one); Delta (one); Anambra (one) and Abia (one).

Latest Update on Monkeypox in Nigeria published by the centre showed that there were 19 new suspected cases reported in the week under review, spanning July 18 to 24, from 12 states, namely Ondo (four); Bayelsa (three); Taraba (two); Lagos (two); Rivers (one); Kogi (one); Kano (one); Imo (one); Delta (one); Anambra (one); Akwa Ibom (one) and Abia (one).

It noted: “From January 1 to July 24, 2022, there have (89 males, 44 females) from 26 states – Lagos, 17; Adamawa, 11; Delta, 11; Rivers, 10; Bayelsa, 10; Ondo, nine and Edo, eight.

“Others are Nasarawa (seven); Plateau (six); Federal Capital Territory (five); Anambra (five); Taraba (five); Imo (four); Cross River (three); Kwara (three); Borno (three); Oyo (three) and Kano (two), Katsina (two), Gombe (two), Kogi (two), Niger (one).

“The rest consists of Ogun (one); Bauchi (one); Akwa Ibom (one) and Abia (one).

“Three deaths were recorded from three states – Delta (one); Lagos (one) and Ondo (one). Overall, since the re-emergence of monkeypox in September 2017 and up to July 24, 2022, a total of 869 suspected cases have been reported from 35 states.”

The centre continued: “Of these 869 suspected cases, there have been 359 (41.3 per cent) confirmed (237 males, 122 females) from 30 states – Rivers (62); Bayelsa (53); Lagos (47); Delta (40); Edo (18); Cross River (17); Imo (12); FCT (11); Adamawa (11); Ondo (nine); Nasarawa (nine); Oyo (nine); Plateau (nine); Akwa Ibom (eight); Anambra (seven); Taraba (five); Enugu (four); Abia (four); Kwara (three); Borno (three); Benue (two); Ekiti (two); Kano (two); Niger (two); Ogun (two); Katsina (two); Gombe (two); Kogi (two); Ebonyi (one) and Bauchi (one).

“In addition, from September 2017 to July 24, 2022, a total of eleven (11) deaths have been recorded (CFR= 3.0 per cent) in eight states – Lagos (three); Edo (two); Imo (one); Cross River (one); FCT (one); Rivers (one), Undo (one) and Delta (one).

“The ongoing efforts to strengthen surveillance at national and sub-national levels increased awareness from global news headlines and our investments in risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) have contributed in part or whole to this observed increase in cases, which we have seen this year. The NCDC will continue to monitor the situation even as we sustain ongoing response efforts.”