Diaspora Desk

UK Discovers Monkeypox In Individual Who Travelled From Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

May 8, 2022.

Sylvester Ugwuanyi

UK Discovers Monkeypox In Person Who ‘Recently Travelled From Nigeria
Begins Search For Passengers In Close Proximity To The Person On The Same Flight To UK

EDITOR’S PICK:

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a person in England has been diagnosed with the rare viral infection monkeypox, according to the UK Health Security Agency, UKHSA.

UKHSA said in a statement issued at the weekend that “the patient has a recent travel history from Nigeria, which is where they are believed to have contracted the infection, before travelling to the UK”.

The infection, which does not easily spread between people, is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals.

Monkeypox can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person; however, there is a very low risk of transmission to the general population.

The agency said the patient is receiving care at the expert infectious disease unit at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London.

It said further, “As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact with the individual to provide information and health advice.

“This includes contacting a number of passengers who travelled in close proximity to the patient on the same flight to the UK.

“People without symptoms are not considered infectious but, as a precaution, those who have been in close proximity are being contacted to ensure that if they do become unwell they can be treated quickly. If passengers are not contacted then there is no action they should take.”

The virus was first recorded in the United Kingdom in 2018 through two persons who had also recently returned from Nigeria. Since then, five more cases have been confirmed in the United Kingdom.

Data from Nigeria’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has it that a total of 13 suspected cases have been reported between January 1 to February 28, 2022.

FURTHER READING:

Out of the suspected cases, four were confirmed from four states as follows: FCT, Imo, Adamawa and Lagos.

Meanwhile, no death has been recorded.

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