A traveller from Nigeria is being investigated by the United States CDC for monkeypox.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a traveller who returned from Nigeria with Monkeypox.
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The investigation is between the CDC, the Maryland Department of Health and other health partners.
Laboratory scientists from the CDC confirmed the monkeypox case on Tuesday.
It was obtained from the lab that the strain matches the strain of the disease in Nigeria.
The patient is currently in isolation in Maryland.
To confirm the case, the CDC revealed some partners that they are working with. These partners would help control the spread of the disease. They are:
“Travellers on the flight to the United States were required to wear masks on the plane as well as in the U.S. airports due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it’s believed the risk of the spread of the Monkeypox virus via respiratory droplets to others on the planes is low.
“Working with airline and state and local health partners, CDC is assessing potential risks to those who may have had close contact with the traveller on the plane and after their arrival in the United States.
“CDC asks healthcare providers in the U.S. to be vigilant to poxvirus-like lesions, particularly among travellers returning from Nigeria. Because of the health risks associated with a single case of monkeypox, clinicians should report suspected cases immediately to state or local public health authorities regardless of whether they are also exploring other potential diagnoses.
“Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a widespread rash on the face and body. Monkeypox re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017 after more than 40 years with no reported cases. Since 2017, 218 cases have been confirmed in Nigeria and eight cases have been reported in international travellers from Nigeria, including a case in Texas in July 2021 and the current case,” CDC said.
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Monkeypox in Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported the first case of monkeypox in 2017. The virus has been spreading across the country till 2021. In 2021, a total of 88 suspected cases were reported between January and October.
“In 2021, a total of 88 suspected cases were reported between January and October 31, 2021. Of the suspected cases, 26 were confirmed from eight states Delta (seven), Lagos (four), Bayelsa (five), Rivers (four), Edo (three), FCT (one), Niger (one), Ogun (one) and, no deaths recorded from all the states.
“In October 2021, eight new suspected cases were reported. From September 2017 to October 31, 2021, a total of 502 suspected monkeypox cases have been reported from 32 states in the country.
“Of the reported cases, 218 (43.4 per cent) have been confirmed in 20 states – Rivers (51), Bayelsa (42), Lagos (28), Delta (27), Cross River (13), Edo (nine), Imo (eight), Akwa Ibom (seven), Oyo (six), FCT (six), Enugu (four), Abia (three), Plateau (three), Nasarawa (two), Benue (two), Anambra (two), Ekiti (two), Ebonyi (one), Niger (one) and Ogun (one),” NCDC noted.
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From September 2017 to September 2021 a total of eight deaths have been recorded in six states:
Edo – 2
Lagos – 2
Imo – 1
Cross River – 1
FCT – 1
Rivers – 1
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
