As the world is gradually recovering from the impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic, another disease known as Monkey Pox has also crept into the society with the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control, NCDC confirming forty –six suspected infections between January 1 and April 30, 2022.
The symptoms include headache, skin rashes, fever, body aches .exhaustion and inflammation of the lymph nodes but lymph nodes and rash on the palms and soles are peculiar to Monkey Pox disease.
Tracing the origin of the disease, Professor Abosede Omonona, said, ” The disease was first discovered in 1958 as smallpox like a disease of captive monkeys at a research institute in Denmark.The first case of Monkey Pox infection was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970 in a nine-month-old boy and since then sporadic human infections had occurred in many Central and West African countries with infections more common in children and young adults.”
Findings also show that Monkey Pox could be caused by a bite, scratch, handling and eating of infected animal as well as skin contact with an infected person or their body fluids.
Animals identified as susceptible to Monkey Pox virus are squirrels, Gambian pouched rats and Monkeys.
A veterinarian, Dr Ibikunle Faramade said Monkey Pox spread could be traceable to the transborder movement of wild animals.
He recommended improved quarantine services to prevent the importation of diseased animals into the country.
“Government needs to rev up preparedness rather than fire brigade approach. Preparedness in terms of disease prevention is key”.
The experts noted that Monkey Pox is self-limiting as it resolves itself within one to three weeks.
Contributing, Dr Olusola Gamra of the Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, explained that the disease had a ten per cent mortality rate.
Other preventive measures include heightened sanitation, regular washing of hands, careful handling of dead animals, wearing of personal protective equipment and promo reporting of suspected cases to appropriate authorities.
Anthonia Akanji
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