Monkey Pox Cases Increasing in Nigeria
Idris reported that a total of 39 cases of Monkeypox have been recorded in various states of Nigeria since the beginning of the year. Emphasizing that there was no loss of life due to this virus in the country, Idris stated that the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) continues its intervention activities against the Monkeypox virus effectively.
Idris also stated that NCDC is working on vaccination plans for individuals in the high-risk group and said, “Nigeria hopes to receive 10 thousand doses of Jynneos vaccine.” The government had attempted to prepare a health declaration form for international travelers to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
The African Union has declared a public health emergency due to the monkeypox virus spreading rapidly across the continent.
How is Monkeypox Virus Transmitted?
Monkeypox virus is transmitted to humans from infected individuals or rodents such as mice and squirrels. Among the ways the virus is transmitted:
- Direct contact with body debris of infected individuals,
- Using items such as clothes, sheets and towels that contain these spills,
- It includes contact with body fluids.
The process of contracting the virus begins with the appearance of symptoms in a period ranging from 5 to 21 days after infection. These symptoms are usually as follows:
- high fever,
- Head, back and muscle aches,
- Swelling in lymph nodes,
- Fatigue, cold and shivering,
- Blisters on the skin similar to chickenpox.
The treatment of this disease, which does not have a specific treatment method, is usually done with antiviral drugs. The majority of cases have a mild illness and recover completely within a few weeks. The World Health Organization (WHO) changed the name “monkeypox” to “mpox” in 2022 due to concerns about racism and discrimination.
