The Reemergence of Monkeypox in Nigeria

Nzube Ekpunobi (), Oluwamayowa Akinsuyi, Theresa Ariri and Temitope Ogunmola
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Nzube Ekpunobi: Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Oluwamayowa Akinsuyi: Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Theresa Ariri: Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Temitope Ogunmola: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Akure, Nigeria

Challenges, 2023, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: The emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases caused by viruses continue to be a major public health concern globally, affecting both humans and animals. One such disease is monkeypox, a zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) that has recurred in sub-Saharan Africa over several decades. Notably, the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox in Nigeria follows a deadly outbreak in 2017, which was preceded by the disease’s first recorded outbreak in 1978. Epidemiological investigations in 2017 showed no apparent link between human monkeypox cases and the outbreak that year, indicating the potential existence of multiple sources of the virus and limited human-to-human transmission. This underscores the presence of an alternative ecological niche in humans. Furthermore, in some communities in Nigeria, monkeys are regarded as sacred and not hunted or consumed, leading to their proliferation and increased likelihood of MPXV transmission. This mini-review focuses on the occurrence, epidemiological distribution, geographical distribution, endemicity, and possible solutions to reduce the spread of human monkeypox in Nigeria. The implications of this reemergence and the need for effective public health measures to prevent and control outbreaks of monkeypox are also discussed.

Keywords: monkeypox; Nigeria; MPXV; epidemiology; spillover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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