9 dead in Congo from Monkeypox while Nigeria records first death in 2022

In 2022, nine individuals died of monkeypox in Congo, whereas Nigeria's first fatality from the disease was reported this year, according to the nations' health authorities. Globally, at least 20 nations continue to fight sudden outbreaks that have not been seen in years.

465 cases of the disease have been identified in Congo, making it one of the worst-hit countries in Central and West Africa, where the illness is prevalent said Dr. Aime Alongo, the chief of Congo's Sankuru health division.

The continuance of the illness in Congo is linked to dead rat and monkey consumption, according to Dr. Alongo.

The locals go into the jungle, collect the cadavers of rodents, bats, and monkeys, which are reservoirs for monkeypox, according to the official. Those with symptoms of monkeypox should visit a health center to be quarantined.

In Nigeria, the first monkeypox fatality occurred this year in a victim with underlying health issues, according to the diseases control agency.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced that out of the 66 suspected cases, 21 have been confirmed as monkeypox.

A 40-year-old patient with underlying co-morbidity and on immunosuppressive drugs died from the virus, according to the Nigeria CDC.

Although there hasn't been an outbreak of monkeypox in Nigeria since September 2017, the disease continues to appear in isolated circumstances. Since then, at least 247 people have been identified in 22 of the country's 36 states, with a 3.6 percent mortality rate, according to the disease control agency.

A surge in monkeypox infections has alarmed officials in Europe and the United States, many of whom have not seen a single case in years. The virus has already been found in more than 250 cases in over 20 non-endemic nations, the World Health Organization announced.

Monkeypox has not yet caused major epidemics outside of Africa, where it is endemic.

One of the latest cases in the United Kingdom was identified in a male resident from Nigeria who arrived the UK on May 4. Since the man departed for the UK, the disease has been found in six people in Nigeria.

Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the country's Center for Disease Control director, said there is no indication that the British citizen became infected with monkeypox in Nigeria and that the nation is prepared to confront an outbreak of monkeypox.

The most serious problem with monkeypox is that it is uncommon, as well as the public's low perception of how dangerous it is ... we've done awareness campaigns and advocacy training to raise the level of health care professionals' knowledge, Adetifa added.