National Monkeypox Public Health Response Guidelines

Since the re-emergence of monkeypox in Nigeria in September 2017, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) has continued to receive reports and respond to cases of the disease from States across the country. Between September 2017 when the outbreak started and November 2018, about 300 suspected cases had been reported from 26 out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The highest number of cases were reported from States in the South-South region of Nigeria. Monkeypox is a zoonotic orthopox virus, which presents in humans with symptoms such as fever, headache, body pain, malaise, lymphadenopathy (enlargement of glands), sore throat and the typical generalised vesiculopustular rash. Transmission is via direct or indirect contact with infected animals, human, or contaminated materials.