Health

Monkeypox Cases Rise, Spread To 26 States, FCT

Published

4 years ago

August 22, 2022

Cases of monkeypox have spread to 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising fears among citizens.

This is just as experts have called for increased efforts by all stakeholders towards curbing the situation. Monkeypox is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to humans.

From January to August this year, 473 suspected cases and 172 confirmed cases have been recorded.

An analysis of situation reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that the number of cases recorded in the country so far this year is higher than those recorded each in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. In the whole of 2017, there were 88 confirmed cases, 49 in 2018, 47 in 2019, 8 in 2020 and 34 in 2021.

Since the beginning of this year, several countries have also witnessed an unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox, prompting the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, to, July 23, declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern.

Spike in cases across states

The disease has been spreading across states and the FCT over the last few months.

As of May 29, a total of 21 confirmed cases with one death were reported from nine states and the FCT. The cases rose to 36 and spread to 15 states and the FCT by June 12. Less than two weeks later, the cases grew to 41. In the epidemiological week 25 alone (June 20 to 26 2022), there were 21 positive cases out of 42 suspected cases.

By July, the number of cases had hit 157 out of 413 suspected cases with the number of affected states also rising to 25 states and the FCT.

Between July 25 and 31, a total of 24 confirmed cases of monkeypox were recorded.

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As of August 7, the disease had spread to 27 states and confirmed cases risen to 172 since the beginning of the year out of 473 suspected cases. The number of deaths had also risen to four with Delta, Lagos, Ondo and Akwa Ibom recording one case each.

The latest NCDC situation report showed that in the first week of August alone, 60 suspected cases were recorded from 10 states out of which 15 new confirmed cases were recorded.

The states that have recorded monkeypox cases since the beginning of the year are Lagos (20), Ondo (16), Adamawa (13), Rivers (13), Delta (12), Bayelsa (12), Edo (9), Nasarawa (9), Anambra (7), Imo (7), Plateau (6), Taraba (5).

Others are Kwara (5), Kano (5), Abia (4), Cross River (3), Borno (3), Oyo (3), Gombe (3), Katsina (2), Kogi (2), Ogun (2), Niger (1), Bauchi (1), Akwa Ibom (1) and Ebonyi (1) as well as FCT (7).

Experts’ views

An epidemiologist and microbiologist with the African Field Epidemiology Network, Dr Muhammad Shakir Balogun, stressed the need to quickly act to reduce the spread of monkeypox.

He advised Nigerians on precautionary measures: “To protect yourself, avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox; don’t touch the rash of a person with monkeypox; don’t kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox; avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used; don’t share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox; don’t handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.

“In addition, avoid contact with animals that can spread monkeypox virus, usually rodents and primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals as well as bedding or other materials they’ve touched”.

According to him, though there are vaccines for monkeypox, they’re not widely available yet and “where they’re available, they’re given to people at high risk.”

A professor of Virology, Sunday Omilabu, urged the Federal Government to acquire smallpox vaccines to stem the tide of monkeypox.

In his interview with Arise TV, monitored by our correspondents, he said: “Government should negotiate for smallpox vaccine as other European countries are doing to prevent more cases of the virus.”

Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said since the re-emergence of monekypox in 2017, the agency had made investments to increase surveillance, diagnostics, risk communications and research capacity despite limited resources.

“These investments, coupled with an awareness of the ongoing global outbreak, have increased Nigerians’ awareness of the disease leading to an increase in the number of monkeypox cases detected in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended state epidemiologists and local government area disease surveillance notification officers for facilitating the timely detection of monkeypox cases that might have been missed in other years. He enjoined Nigerians, particularly those with immunocompromised or underlying health conditions, to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and its associated risks.

He also advised the citizens to “promptly report to their nearest health facility if they or their relatives observe such symptoms including rash containing pus on the body surfaces such as the face, hands, soles of feet etc.”

On the fears over the spread of monkeypox, Adetifa, however, said no cause for alarm as the variant in circulation tends to resolve on its own spontaneously or without any specific treatment.

He said: “The monkeypox virus in circulation (clade IIa formerly known as the West African clade) is the same as before and has not changed in virulence. Research has shown that this variant is self-limiting.”

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He said the NCDC-led national monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre continued to work with states to support ongoing monkeypox response activities in surveillance, risk communications, laboratory diagnostics, case management and infection prevention and control.

What to know about monkeypox

Animal-to-human transmission of Monkeypox may occur by direct contact with blood, body fluids, skin or mucosal lesions of infected animals such as monkeys, squirrels and rodents.

Symptoms include fever, body pain, weakness, sore throat and rashes on the face, palms, soles of the feet and other parts of the body.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of lesions is the mainstay of monkeypox diagnosis. Swabs and scabs from skin lesions are sent to the designated reference laboratory in dry containers. Serum samples can also be taken; however, these often yield negative results due to the transient viraemia.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, noted that there are two types of monkeypox virus: the West African and Central Africa variants.

According to him, infections in the current global outbreak are from the West African type and are less fatal; while the Central Africa variant is more fatal and confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Director, Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health, Stephenson Ojeifo, said the state had carried out contact tracing of about 200 persons who had contact with the positive cases and they were all declared negative after laboratory investigations.

He said the state had put in place a surveillance mechanism while also reactivating its health education unit to sensitise the public on the zoonotic disease.

Ojeifo said the patients were treated in the state’s isolation centres.

Some of the residents of the state, who spoke to Daily Trust, suggested that sensitisation programmes on monkeypox be taken to rural areas.

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezurike, said someone who tested positive to monkeypox recently had been moved to an isolation centre and was responding to treatment.

He said seven contacts and line listed individuals had been identified and were currently being followed up to avoid the spread of the virus.

“Active case search has been heightened across all the LGAs in the state to strengthen case finding.

“We’re also using this opportunity to appeal to Ebonyians to report to any nearest hospital in your area if they notice any symptoms like that of monkeypox,” he said.

Daily Trust

Health

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike, Demand Payment of 19 Months’ Allowances

Published

13 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike, Demand Payment of 19 Months’ Allowances

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned total and indefinite strike following renewed commitments from the Federal Government on salary payments, allowances, and welfare-related issues affecting medical professionals across Nigeria.

The decision was reached after an emergency virtual meeting of NARD’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday, where members reviewed ongoing negotiations with government institutions. The resolution was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim.

According to the association, the suspension followed engagements with key government stakeholders, including the Vice President’s office, the ministries of health, labour, and finance, the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and other relevant agencies involved in health sector financing and administration.

NARD noted that there had been renewed assurances from the government regarding the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table (PAT), which is expected to reflect in April salary payments and beyond. The association also confirmed a reversal of earlier delays in implementation.

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Among its key demands, the association insisted on the immediate payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary backlogs, as well as urgent settlement of 19 months’ unpaid professional allowance arrears owed to members across various federal health institutions.

The doctors also called for the expedited release of funds under the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), stating that approval has already been secured and disbursement processes are expected to be completed without further delay.

Another major concern raised by the association is the continued delay in payment of house officers’ salaries, which it described as a recurring issue requiring urgent intervention. NARD urged the authorities to convene an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the matter and ensure timely remuneration of newly qualified doctors.

While the strike has been suspended, the association stressed that its demands remain in force and warned that progress will be closely monitored. It said the situation will be reviewed at its upcoming May Ordinary General Meeting in Kano, where further action could be decided depending on government compliance.

Healthcare analysts note that the suspension offers temporary relief to Nigeria’s already strained health system, which has faced repeated disruptions due to industrial disputes over welfare and funding challenges.

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike, Demand Payment of 19 Months’ Allowances

Health

NAFDAC Busts Fake Alcohol Factories in Lagos, Seizes ₦350m Counterfeit Drinks

Published

4 days ago

April 23, 2026

Trends Admin

NAFDAC Busts Fake Alcohol Factories in Lagos, Seizes ₦350m Counterfeit Drinks

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered and dismantled two major illegal production sites involved in the counterfeiting and adulteration of alcoholic beverages in Lagos State, seizing fake drinks valued at about ₦350 million.

Acting on credible intelligence, enforcement operatives carried out coordinated raids at Zamfara Plaza in the Trade Fair Complex and on Lagos Island, where large-scale production and packaging of counterfeit alcoholic beverages were taking place.

At the Trade Fair Complex, officials discovered a fully organised illegal production setup equipped with plastic mixing tanks, improvised filtration systems, empty branded bottles, corks, and packaging materials used to mimic popular alcoholic brands. The facility was allegedly used to manufacture and distribute fake drinks to unsuspecting consumers across Lagos.

A second raid on Lagos Island led to the arrest of a suspect linked to the illegal production and distribution network operating through a retail outlet. Authorities confirmed that all recovered items were seized and evacuated for laboratory analysis and further regulatory action.

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According to NAFDAC, more than 1,800 cartons of counterfeit and adulterated alcoholic products were recovered during the operation, marking one of the agency’s significant recent enforcement breakthroughs in Lagos.

The agency warned that consumption of such adulterated alcoholic beverages poses severe public health risks, including poisoning, liver damage, kidney failure, and potentially death. It stressed that many of the products are produced under unhygienic and unsafe conditions without regulatory approval.

NAFDAC reiterated that the crackdown is part of a sustained nationwide campaign against food and drug counterfeiting, aimed at protecting public health and sanitising the supply chain for consumable goods in Nigeria.

The agency also warned producers, distributors, and retailers involved in such illegal activities to desist immediately, stating that offenders will face prosecution under existing food and drug safety laws.

Members of the public were urged to remain vigilant when purchasing alcoholic beverages, verify product authenticity, and report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its toll-free line 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322).

NAFDAC Busts Fake Alcohol Factories in Lagos, Seizes ₦350m Counterfeit Drinks

Health

Global Condom Prices to Rise by 30% as Iran Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Global Condom Prices to Rise by 30% as Iran Conflict Disrupts Supply Chains

Global condom prices are expected to increase by up to 30% following severe disruptions in international supply chains linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to Malaysia-based Karex Berhad, the world’s largest condom manufacturer.

The company, which produces over five billion condoms annually for major global brands including Durex and Trojan, said rising production costs and logistics challenges have made a price hike unavoidable.

Karex also supplies condoms to public health systems such as the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and supports United Nations-backed reproductive health programmes, making the disruption a major concern for global health supply chains.

According to Karex Chief Executive Officer Goh Miah Kiat, the Iran conflict has triggered a sharp increase in the cost of key raw materials used in condom production, including synthetic rubber, nitrile, silicone oil, and aluminium foil.

He explained that these materials are closely linked to petrochemical markets, which have been affected by rising global oil prices and instability in key shipping routes disrupted by the conflict.

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“The situation is fragile and costs are rising across the board. We have no choice but to pass these increases on to customers,” he said.

The company also reported major disruptions in global logistics, with shipping times to Europe and the United States now extending to nearly two months—about twice the normal delivery period. This has caused distributors to experience shrinking inventories and has forced many buyers to place bulk advance orders, further tightening global supply.

Karex said demand for condoms has also increased as governments and distributors rush to secure stock amid uncertainty in global freight movements. The company warned that developing countries are particularly vulnerable due to limited reserves and slower replenishment systems, raising concerns about access to essential reproductive health supplies.

Industry analysts say the disruption affecting global condom supply chains reflects a broader impact on medical and protective goods, including surgical gloves and other healthcare products that rely on similar petrochemical inputs.

Despite the challenges, Karex said it currently has sufficient stock to meet short-term demand and is working to expand production capacity to stabilise global supply. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting public health programmes and international aid partners while navigating ongoing market instability.