As monkeypox continues to spread throughout the world, Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has denounced what it described as widespread misinformation about the infection, especially in Nigeria.
NCDC Director-General Ifedayo Adetifa said this Tuesday in a virtual media dialogue on the infection, noting that more than 3,000 lab-confirmed cases and one death have been recorded worldwide as of June 22, 2022. .
However, Adetifa admitted that there is a rise in monkeypox cases in Nigeria and concluded that, if not contained, it could exceed the peak number of cases seen in 2017 when the infection re-emerged.
Disinformation
The NCDC chief added that, contrary to belief in some quarters, “monkeypox is not a plot to cause lockdowns like COVID-19 and there is no evidence of the virus being released from a laboratory.”
He said that while rare, monkeypox is not a new disease.
“In Nigeria, no change in the transmissibility of the virus has been observed nor have any changes in its clinical manifestation (including symptoms, profile and virulence) been documented nor is there evidence of sexual transmission,” he said.
global statistics
The latest Monkeypox update from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that from January to June 22, 2022, 50 countries in five regions reported a cumulative total of 3,413 confirmed cases with more than 90 percent recorded in non-countries. endemic
According to the data, the WHO European Region led the infection with 2,933 cases, accounting for 86% of total cases, followed by the Region of the Americas with 381, accounting for 11%.
The African Region ranked third on the record with 73 cases, representing 2 percent of global cases reported by six countries, with Nigeria topping the list.
Nigeria is followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Cameroon and Congo.
Stigmatization
Misinformation aside, Mr. Adetifa explained that the discrimination and stigmatization associated with monkeypox infection needs urgent intervention.
He said: “The prevailing media perception and misinformation about monkeypox has fueled false narratives about the virus, the potential risk of discrimination and stigmatization of this requires urgent behavior change and social intervention.
“Since its sudden resurgence in 2017, a coordinated multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) 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 the country,” he said.
He also added that genomic sequencing is ongoing at NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory to identify possible mutations and the epidemiology of the virus.
Speaking further, he noted that NCDC is supporting the global effort to respond to the disease, as well as pushing to rename and reclassify the virus to a “non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing nomenclature.”
“Monkeypox is a priority despite being neglected for years, especially during outbreaks like the ones we’ve had in Nigeria and neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo a few years ago.
“While it is unfortunate that such a global outreach is required for the necessary care to be provided, here in Nigeria it remains a priority for us,” he said.
In his remarks, WHO country representative Walter Mulombo urged journalists to address misconceptions about the monkeypox disease that have continued to fuel false narratives about Nigeria globally.
“The important thing is to avoid any possible unequal access to vaccines that African countries, including Nigeria, experience in the early stages of a pandemic,” he said.
Mulombo added that rumors and misinformation would cause more damage and loss of life than the monkeypox disease itself.
Update on monkeypox in Nigeria
Monkeypox National Emergency Operations Center (EOC) NCDC Incident Manager Lateefat Amao provided the monkeypox breakdown and case description in Nigeria.
According to Ms. Amao, from January 1 to June 26, 2022, there have been a total of 204 suspected cases, 62 confirmed cases from 19 states, and one death in a 40-year-old man with comorbidity who was receiving immunosuppressive drugs.
When describing the suspected cases, he explained that it is an acute condition with fever >38.30C, intense headache, lymphadenopathy, back pain, myalgia and intense asthenia.
One of three days later, a progressively developing rash often begins on the face (denser) and then spreads to other parts of the body, including the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands.
For the probable case, he said that 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.
He further explained that Monkeypox can directly or indirectly contact a confirmed case through skin lesions, oral secretions, urine, feces, vomit, blood, sexual contact, and sharing a common space.
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In the latest situation report, June 20-26, 2022, the NCDC reported 42 suspected cases of monkeypox, with 21 newly confirmed cases in 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).
CNDC mandate
Speaking about the NCDC mandate, Mr. Adetifa said: “As the national public health institute, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention is mandated to prevent, detect and respond to events of public health significance. .
“Over the last five years, Nigeria has witnessed the catastrophic effects of infectious diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, dengue fever, rabies, yellow fever, COVID-19, and most recently monkeypox. .
“As we continue to ensure that all infectious diseases receive appropriate care using a One-Health approach, we remain grateful to our partners including WHO-AIRA (Africa Infodemic Response Alliance) and Breakthrough Action Nigeria for the support they provide to institutionalize a system. for the effective management of infodemics associated with these outbreaks in the country.
“This led to the relocation of the National Infodemic Management Team (NIMT) at NCDC, which conducts active social and community listening to identify information gaps related to the monkeypox outbreak. , with the critical support of partners”.