Bayelsa state government is presently investigating the suspected cases of monkeypox outbreak in its communities, the State’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, has said.
Prof. Etebu said samples of the virus had been sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) laboratory in Dakar for confirmation.
According to the WHO, Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although less severe.
TheNewsGuru reports Smallpox was eradicated in 1980; however, Monkeypox still occurs sporadically in some parts of Africa, according to the WHO.
Meanwhile, the WHO has presented five key facts about the outbreak:
- Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
- The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal illness in humans and, although it is similar to human smallpox which has been eradicated, it is much milder.
- The monkeypox virus is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.
- Typically, case fatality in monkeypox outbreaks has been between 1% and 10%, with most deaths occurring in younger age groups.
- There is no treatment or vaccine available although prior smallpox vaccination was highly effective in preventing monkeypox as well.
According to the WHO, the incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 16 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
“There are no specific treatments or vaccines available for monkeypox infection, but outbreaks can be controlled.
“Vaccination against smallpox has been proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox in the past but the vaccine is no longer available to the general public after it was discontinued following global smallpox eradication. Nevertheless, prior smallpox vaccination will likely result in a milder disease course.
“During human monkeypox outbreaks, close contact with other patients is the most significant risk factor for monkeypox virus infection.
“In the absence of specific treatment or vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus.
“Surveillance measures and rapid identification of new cases is critical for outbreak containment,” the WHO said in a statement on its website.
So far, Bayelsa state has recorded 10 patients affected and has created an isolation centre at the NDUTH.
“Most of them are on admission and we are following up the 49 cases that we are suspecting might come down with the illness,” Prof. Etebu said.
For more details, read: ‘Monkey Pox’ outbreak hits Bayelsa as doctors, 10 others are quarantined
