Monkeypox Rages In seven States, affecting 31
The reported outbreak of viral Monkeypox on September 22 has so far spread to seven States with 31 persons suspiciously affected.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a news release this evening listed the seven affected states as: Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun.
Bayelsa was the first to announce the outbreak of the viral infection in the State on September 22 and Lagos which did today traced the two suspected cases identified to persons who recently arrived from Bayelsa and had confessed to consuming “bush meat”.
However, NCDC National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in a signed statement noted that samples from all the suspected cases have been taken for confirmation “as it is unlikely that many of the suspected cases are actually monkeypox, but all are being investigated ”
He said the centre has already activated it’s Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the outbreak, investigation and response across the affected states.
All states ministries of health have also been put on alert for active case findings and tracing.
The centre have equally rolled out its toll free numbers: 0800970000-10; SMS- 08099555577 & Whatsapp- 07087110839. Twitter /facebook @NCDCgov
What is Monkey Pox?
As stated by the Centre, Monkeypox is self–limiting which means patients tend to recover with time. However supportive care and management of condition is required and mostly successful.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkeypox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘monkeypox.’ The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of an intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands throughout the body. They are part of the lymph system, which carries fluid (lymph fluid), nutrients, and waste material between the body tissues and the bloodstream. The lymph system is an important part of the immune system, the body’s defense system against disease.