Nigeria: Elevated mpox cases reported in multiple states as of Dec. 6 /update 2

Event

Nigerian health officials have reported elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity in Nigeria, with 255 additional cases reported Sep. 11-Oct. 30, bringing the total to 604 since Jan. 1, with a further 1549 suspected cases. This caseload compares to roughly 34 cases reported over a similar period in 2021. Thus far, 31states have reported activity, with Lagos (184 cases) being the most affected state, followed by Abia (46 cases), Bayelsa (36 cases), and Imo (33 cases). As of Oct. 30, seven deaths related to the disease have been reported nationwide, leading to a case fatality rate of two percent. This report represents the most complete data available as of Dec. 6.

Context

Human mpox 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 mpox 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 mpox in Nigeria that occurred in 1978.

Mpox is caused by a virus belonging to the same family as the one that causes smallpox. However, mpox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for human-to-human transmission. Mpox 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 mpox.

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 mpox.