WHO: Nigeria Has Highest Monkeypox Death Toll In Africa

On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that Nigeria currently has the highest monkeypox death toll and confirmed cases in Africa.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, disclosed this during a virtual press briefing tagged, ‘Road to defeating Meningitis by 2030.’

Moeti said that the majority of monkeypox cases are in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ghana, “For monkeypox, there are now 524 confirmed cases and 12 deaths across 11 African countries.

“The majority of cases are in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana. Of the 12 deaths, six occurred in Nigeria, four in Ghana, and two in the Central African Republic.

“Although no single monkeypox vaccine has been administered to any high-risk group in any of the African countries reporting cases, WHO has provided 39,000 test kits to countries, enabling improved testing rates.”

Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

Read Also: WHO: Over 50,000 Monkeypox Cases, 16 Deaths Reported In 2022

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the exact reservoir of monkeypox is unknown although African rodents are suspected to play a part in transmission.

The latest data from the NCDC showed that as of August 14, there were 530 suspected cases with 220 confirmed cases in the country.

During an interview with The PUNCH, Dr. Julian Ojebo, a medical expert, said there was a need for increased awareness about the disease across the country.

“The government should increase awareness in the print and broadcast media; they should increase awareness campaign everywhere, including the rural areas using the traditional and leaders.

“People should know the signs and symptoms; they should increase the surveillance rate for early detection. There should also be treatment centres dedicated to the disease to avoid stigmatisation.”

Obinna Chukwudi, a medical laboratory scientist at the Department of Microbiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, stated, “The health system is weak and the government should strengthen it by investing resources into the health sector. When all is made available, it will be easier in combating epidemics effectively.”