Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos top states with highest infections
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has alerted the public on reported cases of monkeypox in some parts of the country.
It said 59 suspected and 15 confirmed cases of the disease have been registered in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Abuja.
Ihekweazu made the disclosure while reacting to the case of a Dallas, Texas resident who recently returned from Nigeria and tested positive to the disease.
He said laboratory tests confirmed that the patient was infected with a strain of the virus mainly seen in West Africa, which included Nigeria.
Ihekweazu, however, said a large cluster of infections has not been recorded, meaning there is no emergency leading to a declaration of a pandemic yet.
He assured that just as the NCDC has been effectively managing epidemic prone diseases in the country, it would also monitor the ongoing reported cases of the disease.
The NCDC boss explained: “The Federal Government was notified of the situation in Texas, through the International Health Regulations (IHR), who reported a case of monkeypox disease diagnosed in a patient who had recently visited Nigeria.
“Since the re-emergence of monkeypox in the country in September 2017, the agency has continued to receive reports and responses to sporadic cases of the disease from states across the country.
“We have been working closely with state health ministries to strengthen monkeypox disease surveillance and response in the country.
“We work with Enhanced Monkeypox Surveillance Project where we have been training health workers across states to rapidly detect and manage cases.
“Our initial focus is on the states with the highest number of cases – Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Lagos.
“We will continue working with all states to strengthen monkeypox prevention, detection and control in Nigeria.”
He urged Nigerians to continue adhering to precautions that protected them from monkeypox and other infectious diseases.
“If you feel ill or have a sudden rash, please visit a hospital for diagnosis and management,” he advised.