2022 Monkeypox In Nigeria: NCDC Activates Emergency Operation Centres
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The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated Emergency Operation Centres for Monkeypox.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that this decision followed a risk assessment. The risk assessment was carried out by the NCDC on Monkeypox outbreaks in several countries.
Adetifa said the EOC would keep coordinating response activities in the country. This would be done while they contribute to the global response.
In April, the UK announced her first monkeypox case. The carrier was traced to be a Nigerian traveller. It was learned that US also recorded its first case. The United Arab Emirates also recorded a case of monkeypox.
Atleast, 300 cases have been confirmed outside Africa. The countries and data affected are:
Spain – 84 cases.
UK – 85 cases.
Other countries involved are;
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On May 24, a total of 18 other countries detected the virus.
Adetifa revealed the national multisectoral multidisciplinary Incident Management System for Monkeypox was activated at level two (medium).
He explained:
Confirmed cases of the disease have been reported in Europe, Australia and America.
That number is expected to rise further, but public health experts say the overall risk to the general population remains low. The symptoms often include fever and rash – but the infection is usually mild.He explained:
“You are aware that Level 1: is watching mode.
“Level 2: is alert mode while Level 3: is emergency response mode. So, Nigeria is on level two at the moment.”
The NCDC DG said that the EOC would keep monitoring and coordinating efforts to control the spread. He added that this effort would be effective both within and outside Nigeria. Also, Nigeria would be contributing to ensuring global outbreak preparedness and reduction of monkeypox.
Adetifa explained further that monkeypox happens sporadically. The primary place of contact were Central and West Africa. However, in recent times, the cases reported in some other parts of the world cannot be traced to these regions.
He explains:
“It does not spread easily between people, but it can be spread through: touching clothing, bedding, or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash, touching monkeypox skin blisters or defects.
“If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.
“A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.”
He also said that Monkeypox could infect anyone and be passed from anyone urging people to discourage stigmatization.
Adetifa said:
“If you are showing known symptoms of the disease, promptly contact the NCDC toll-free line 6232 for guidance on the steps to take.”
The World Health Organisation had said the virus can be controlled outside endemic countries.
The WHO Director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, Sylvie Briand made this known at a conference.
Brian said with the right response in countries outside Africa the spread can be controlled.
“We encourage you all to increase the surveillance of monkeypox to see where transmission levels are and understand where it is going,” he said.
Treatment for Monkeypox
Some countries have began plans to combat the virus. In Germarny, for instance, the WHO said it had ordered up to 40,000 doses of the Imvanex vaccine.
Health officials disclosed that people who got the smallpox vaccine years ago should have existing immunity. This is because the smallpox disease is similar to the monkeypox.
However, they said the older treatment had more side effects so is not suitable for fighting monkeypox today.
France had announced a targeted vaccination campaign for adults who had been exposed. This was after the country confirmed three cases.
Health authorities are recommending administration of vaccines within four days of exposure. The expiration time is 14 days.
In England the total number of cases are 71. This was after 14 more cases of the virus was recorded on May 24.
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
