The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said there are no specific treatments available for the monkeypox infection, urging Nigerians to take all measures to prevent contracting the disease.
This was contained in a post on the NCDC website.
The message read, “There are no specific treatments available for monkeypox infection, although various novel antiviral have in-vitro and animal data supportive effects such as Brincindofocir and Tecovirimat.
“Measures that can be taken to prevent infection with monkeypox virus include: avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus; both sick or dead animals in areas where monkeypox cases have occurred; avoiding contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick animal; thoroughly cooking any animal that might have come into contact with an infected animal; handling them with standard precautions and observing monkeypox symptoms for 30 days and washing with soap and water after contact with infected animals.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease, which is endemic to West and Central African countries, has surfaced in some European countries.
The WHO in a statement it released last week noted that the outbreak of the monkeypox disease is being discovered in countries where it is not endemic.
The Center also noted that 15 out of the 46 suspected cases reported had been confirmed, and countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Portugal, Spain, Israel, Lebanon, and Canada among others have started to report cases of the diseases.
Allaying the fear of Nigerians, the Minister of Health, Dr. Olotunnimbe Mamora, said the NCDC is doing everything possible to mitigate the spread of the disease.
“The NCDC is on it. The center is doing all it takes in terms of surveillance, and response and it is also putting in place certain measures to mitigate the spread.
“Just like we have the Lassa fever, the monkeypox is endemic to Nigeria but we have our agencies like the NCDC when it comes to response and I can assure you that they are totally on it,” he said.
