NCDC said No Treatment for Monkeypox

The current outbreak in Europe identified as Monkeypox. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has said there is no specific treatment available for the Monkeypox infection , also urged Nigerians to take certain measures to prevent contracting the disease.

This is just as the minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora , allayed the fears of Nigerians “Saying the NCDC is doing everything possible to mitigate the spread of the disease.”

Wakadaily noted that Monkeypox, a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), is endemic to west and Central African countries has surfaced in some European countries.

The NCDC started that 15 out of the 46 suspected cases reported had been confirmed, in some countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Portugal, Spain, Israel,  Lebanon and Canada among others have started to report cases.

NCDC posted on its website, said that 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.

Manors also said the NCDC was doing everything possible to enhance surveillance to mitigate the spread of the disease.

measure to prevent infection with monkeypox virus includes: avoiding contact with animal 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 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.

A virologist at the university of maiduguri, prof Marycelin Baba, in a separate interview with the Punch also corroborated NCDC claims calling for caution.

Baba said, “Monkeypox is said to be a mutation from smallpox , there was no treatment for smallpox during its time, The only breakthrough was when the smallpox vaccine was introduced. This means that if you were lucky to get vaccinated with smallpox vaccine during your time, you can be a bit safe.

“Unfortunately, most people were not born during the time the world suffered from the smallpox pandemic, smallpox was eradicated many decades ago.

The NCDC is on it, the center is doing all it takes in terms of surveillance response and it is also putting in place certain measures to mitigate the spread.

“Just like we have the Lassa Fever, the monkeypox is enduring 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”  said by the minister.