Comorbidity: Monkeypox Is Deadly In Patients With Other Illnesses Says Virologist
Dr. Oladipo Kolawole, a Medical Virologist and Immunologist at the Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, states that monkeypox is much deadlier in patients who have a comorbidity. According to him, the virus can overwhelm the sick patients and can even lead to death.
In 2022, the first death from monkeypox in Nigeria was reported to be from a 40-year-old patient who had underlying comorbidity and was on immunosuppressive medications.
In an interview with a correspondent from The PUNCH, Dr. Kolawole said that, “There are different types of comorbidity but anybody that is immunocompromised due to a certain disease condition and now has monkeypox, it could be deadly, it could lead to death. The meaning is that the person’s immune system is immunocompromised, he cannot handle such infections. So, the power of the virus will overwhelm the immune system of such an individual which may lead to death.
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“Ideally, it’s not the monkeypox but because of the state of the health of such individual. Maybe, the individual has HIV or cancer and is on anti-cancer drugs; because some drugs suppress the immune system, so if such an individual is exposed to the virus and the individual contracts the virus, the immune system may not have the strength to fight the virus.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reports 21 confirmed cases in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory; Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Bayelsa (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Imo (1), Rivers (1).
As of now, no new or unusual transmission of the virus has been reported among the 21 cases reported in 2022, nor has its clinical manifestation changed.
In order to prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus, experts urge for members of the public to practice infection prevention and control measures that are proven to reduce the spread of the infection.
SOURCE: The PUNCH
