Lagos, Oyo, 9 other states record more cases of Monkey Pox

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that there is a 100% increase in Monkey Pox suspected cases in Lagos, Oyo and other states as it rose from 10 suspected cases in April to 20 as at May 2022.

It added that 6 of the cases were confirmed and found across Lagos, Oyo and other states.

The 20 new cases were disclosed by the NCDC in its May summary report released on Sunday.

According to the report, the 20 suspected cases were found across 11 states. They are Lagos, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Rivers, Niger, FCT, Delta, Oyo, Kaduna, Edo and Gombe,

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A total of 66 suspected cases have been reported between January 1st and May 29th, 2022. Of the suspected cases, 21 were confirmed from nine (9) states – Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Delta (2), Bayelsa (2), River (1) and Imo (1) – with 1 death recorded. This was in a 40yrs man with renal co-morbidity and on immune-suppressive drugs.

The twenty (20) new suspected cases in May 2022 were reported from eleven (11) states – Lagos (5), Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Rivers (2), Niger (2), FCT (2), Delta (1), Oyo (1), Kaduna (1), Edo (1) and Gombe (1). This is a 100% increase in case reporting as compared with April 2022, when 10 new cases were reported and is likely due to ongoing efforts to increase awareness and improve surveillance.

The six (6) new confirmed positive cases (out of the 20 suspected cases) in May 2022 were confirmed from four (4) states – Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Lagos (1) and Rivers (1).

From September 2017 to May 29th, 2022, a total of 578 suspected cases have been reported from 32 states in the country.

It stated, “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) activated a national multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre for Monkeypox (MPX-EOC) at level 2 to strengthen and coordinate ongoing response activities in-country while contributing to the global response.

“This was based on the report of a preliminary risk assessment done by a group of Subject Matter Experts from the NCDC, relevant government Ministries Departments and Agencies and partner agencies.

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“Among the 21 cases reported in 2022 so far, there has been no evidence of any new or unusual transmission of the virus, nor changes in its clinical manifestation documented (including symptoms, profile and virulence).”

According to the source, the two individuals are currently being investigated while the laboratory test is yet to confirm the blood samples for the virus.