The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Sunday said 66 suspected cases of monkeypox had been reported in Nigeria.

According to World Health Organization the disease is endemic to West and Central African countries.

However some cases have been recorded in other parts of the world such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy among others.

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The agency noted that 21 cases have been confirmed in nine states with a single death.

“A total of 66 suspected cases have been reported between January 1st to May 29th, 2022. Of the suspected cases, 21 were confirmed from nine (9) states – Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Delta (2), Bayelsa (2), River (1) and Imo (1) – with 1 death recorded. This was in a 40-year-old man with renal co-morbidity and on immune-suppressive drugs.

“The twenty (20) new suspected cases in May 2022 were reported from 11 states – Lagos (5), Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Rivers (2), Niger (2), FCT (2), Delta (1), Oyo (1), Kaduna (1), Edo (1) and Gombe (1).

“This is a 100% increase in case reporting as compared with April 2022, when 10 new cases were reported, and is likely due to ongoing efforts to increase awareness and improve surveillance.

“The six (6) new confirmed positive cases (out of the 20 suspected cases) in May 2022 were confirmed from four (4) states – Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Lagos (1), and Rivers (1)”.

The NCDC said it had activated the National Multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre at level 2 to continue to coordinate ongoing response activities.