NCDC warns about surge in monkeypox cases in Nigeria

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that there is an uptick in monkeypox cases in Nigeria and warned that if not contained, it could exceed the peak number of cases seen in 2017 when the infection re-emerged.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, said this on Tuesday at a virtual media dialogue on the infection, while pointing out that more than 3,000 laboratory-confirmed cases and one death have been recorded globally as of June 22, 2022.

Adetifa however said monkeypox is not a plot to cause lockdowns like COVID-19 and that there is no evidence of the release of the virus from a laboratory.

Adetifa while criticising the misinformation about the infection said, contrary to the belief in some quarters, explained that monkeypox is not a plot to cause lockdowns like COVID-19 and there is no evidence of the release of the virus from a laboratory as though rare, but not a novel disease.

He said, “In Nigeria, there has been no observed change in transmissibility of the virus nor changes in its clinical manifestation documented (including symptoms, profile, and virulence) neither is there any evidence of sexual transmission,” he said.

Adetifa urged the public to desist from stigma as he explained that the discrimination and stigmatisation that come with the Monkeypox infection need urgent intervention.

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“Prevailing media perception and misinformation on monkeypox has fuelled false narratives about the virus, the potential risk of discrimination and stigmatisation from this requires urgent social and behaviour change intervention.

“Since its sudden resurgence in 2017, a multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) coordinated at the NCDC has led Nigeria’s efforts to improve the detection, prevention, and control of monkeypox.

“Importantly, we have gained a better understanding of the epidemiology of the virus to inform preparedness and response in-country.

“Genomic sequencing is ongoing at NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory to identify possible mutations and the epidemiology of the virus.

“NCDC is supporting the global effort to respond to the disease as well as pushing for the renaming and re-classification of the virus to a “non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising nomenclature.

“Monkeypox is a priority despite being neglected for years, especially during outbreaks as we have had in Nigeria and neighbouring countries such as DRC a few years back.

“While it is unfortunate that it takes such a global spread for the needed attention to be given, here in Nigeria, it has remained a priority for us.”

Speaking on the NCDC mandate, Mr Adetifa said: “As the national public health institute, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is mandated to prevent, detect and respond to events of public health importance.

“Over the last five years, Nigeria has witnessed catastrophic effects of infectious diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, Dengue, rabies, yellow fever, COVID-19, and most recently, Monkeypox.

“As we continue to ensure that all infectious diseases receive adequate attention using a One-Health approach, we remain grateful to our partners including the WHO-AIRA (Africa Infodemic Response Alliance) and Breakthrough Action Nigeria for the support they provide to institutionalise a system for effective management of infodemics associated with these outbreaks in the country.

“This birthed the National Infodemic Management Team (NIMT) domicile in NCDC that conducts active social and community listening to identify information gaps relating to the monkeypox outbreak, with critical support from partners.”

In his remarks, the WHO Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, urged journalists to address misconceptions about Monkeypox disease which has continued to fuel false narratives about Nigeria globally.

“What is important is to avert any potential inequitable access to vaccines experienced by African countries including Nigeria in the early stages of a pandemic,” he said.

Mulombo added that the rumours and misinformation would cause more harm and loss of lives than the monkeypox disease itself.

The NCDC incident manager of the National Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Lateefat Amao, gave the breakdown of monkeypox and case description in Nigeria.

According to Amao, from January 1 to June 26 2022, there have been 204 suspected cases in total, 62 confirmed cases from 19 states and one death in a 40-year-old man with co-morbidity that was receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Describing the suspected cases, she explained that it comes with an acute illness with fever >38.30C, intense headache, lymphadenopathy, back pain, myalgia, and intense asthenia.

One of three days later, it follows with a progressively developing rash often beginning on the face (most dense) and then spreading elsewhere on the body, including the soles of feet and palms of the hand.

For the probable case, she said a case that meets the clinical case definition, is not laboratory-confirmed but has an epidemiological link to a confirmed case, while the confirmed case is a clinically compatible case that is laboratory confirmed.

She further explained that monkeypox can be contacted directly or indirectly with a confirmed case through skin lesions, oral secretions, urine, faeces, vomitus, blood, sexual contact and sharing a common space.

In the latest situation report, spanning June 20 to June 26, 2022, the NCDC reported 42 suspected cases of Monkeypox, with 21 newly confirmed cases from 13 states.

The states are Cross River (2), Delta (2), FCT (2), Lagos (2), Nasarawa (2), Plateau (2), Rivers (2), Taraba (2), Abia (1), Adamawa (1), Bayelsa (1), Edo (1) and Katsina (1).

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