Nigeria: Elevated monkeypox cases reported in multiple states through July

Event

Nigerian health officials report elevated monkeypox activity in Nigeria with 157 cases reported Jan. 1-July 31, 2022. This caseload compares to roughly 20 cases reported over a similar period in 2021. Twenty-six states have reported activity, with Lagos (20 cases) being the most affected state, followed by Ondo (14 cases), Adamawa (13 cases), Bayelsa (12 cases), and Delta (12 cases). As of July 31, only 4 deaths related to the disease have been reported nationwide. This report represents the most complete data available as of Aug. 10.

Context

Human monkeypox cases are rare, but infections have been reported in several countries in Central and West Africa since the 1970s. Nigerian health officials started reporting sporadic monkeypox cases from September 2017, with 88 confirmed cases in 2017, 49 cases in 2018, 47 cases in 2019, 8 cases in 2020, and 34 cases in 2021. This follows the last reported case of monkeypox in Nigeria that occurred in 1978.

Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox primarily occurs in remote villages and is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates, or through indirect contact with lesion material - such as contaminated bedding. Human-to-human transmission has also been reported, primarily via respiratory droplets that require close contact with an infectious individual, but also through direct contact with bodily fluids, or through indirect contact with lesion material - e.g., through contaminated clothing or bedding. Symptoms in humans generally include fever, headache, muscle and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off. These symptoms typically last two to four weeks, and as many as 10 percent of cases are fatal. No vaccines or drugs are available to prevent or treat monkeypox.

Advice

Whenever possible, attempt to avoid contact with domestic and wild animals. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent hand washing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Avoid contact with individuals who appear sick. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of traveling or operating in affected areas, and be sure to inform healthcare providers that you have been to an area with reported cases of monkeypox.