Monkeypox Virus Hits Nigeria, 15 Cases Recorded

• The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that 15 cases of Monkeypox have been recorded in the country

• The disease control agency is also monitoring 59 other suspected cases after a traveller from Nigeria was hospitalised in the United States

• NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has urged Nigerians who fall ill to report to the hospital

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed the emergence of Monkeypox cases in the country.

NCDC has reported that 15 cases have been confirmed in the country and another 59 cases are being monitored.

The news is coming some days after a Dallas resident was hospitalized with the disease days after visiting Nigeria.

The information was passed by the Director-General of the NCDC Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu on Tuesday in Abuja.

The DG advised Nigerians who feel symptoms such as rash to report to the hospital for diagnosis.

According to the NCDC boss, the agency is currently monitoring the situation and Monkeypox may be declared a pandemic in Nigeria if the situation escalates.

“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.”

Dr Ihekweazu also revealed that the government’s major aim at the moment is to focus on states with the highest number of cases such as Lagos, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and rash in infected people.

The disease has been in Nigeria since 2017 when it re-emerged after 40 years of absence.