Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 24, Number 6—June 2018
Research Letter

Reemergence of Human Monkeypox in Nigeria, 2017

Figures
Article Metrics
126
citations of this article
EID Journal Metrics on Scopus
Author affiliations: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria (A. Yinka-Ogunleye, O. Aruna, W. Eteng, S. Badaru, Amina Mohammed, J. Agenyi, N. Mba, O. Ojo, C. Ihekweazu); Measure Evaluation, Abuja (O. Aruna); Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital/Niger Delta University, Yenagoa, Nigeria (D. Ogoina); Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, Yenagoa (N. Aworabhi, E.N. Etebu); Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja (T.-W. Numbere, A. Ndoreraho, E. Nkunzimana, Y. Disu); African Field Epidemiology Network, Abuja (M. Dalhat, P. Nguku); Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Abdulaziz Mohammed); US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (M. Saleh, A. McCollum, K. Wilkins); Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal (O. Faye, A. Sall); Redeemers University, Ede, Nigeria (C. Happi)

Cite This Article

Abstract

In Nigeria, before 2017 the most recent case of human monkeypox had been reported in 1978. By mid-November 2017, a large outbreak caused by the West African clade resulted in 146 suspected cases and 42 laboratory-confirmed cases from 14 states. Although the source is unknown, multiple sources are suspected.

Human monkeypox is a rare zoonotic infection caused by an orthopoxvirus and characterized by smallpox-like signs and symptoms (1). The disease is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reported outbreaks have occurred mainly in rural rainforest areas of the Congo basin and West Africa, caused by the Central and West African clades of the virus, respectively (16). The West African clade is associated with milder disease, fewer deaths, and limited human-to-human transmission. Since 1970, only ≈10 cases in West Africa had been reported; in 2003, a total of 81 cases (41% laboratory confirmed) were reported in the United States (2,7,8). In Nigeria, a case of human monkeypox in a 4-year-old child in the southeastern part of the country was reported in 1971 (4,5); no more cases in Nigeria had been reported since 1978 (2,6). We provide a preliminary report of a large outbreak of human monkeypox in Nigeria caused by the West African clade of monkeypox virus in 2017.

On September 22, 2017, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was notified of a suspected case of monkeypox; the patient had been admitted to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa State, in the South South region of Nigeria. Outbreak investigations commenced immediately; isolation of the suspected case-patient, laboratory testing, and contact tracing were conducted.

The patient was an 11-year-old boy with an 11-day history of fever, generalized rash, headache, malaise, and sore throat. Physical examination revealed generalized well-circumscribed papulopustular rashes on the trunk, face, palms, and soles of the feet and subsequent umbilication, ulcerations, crusting, and scab formation. The patient had associated oral and nasal mucosal lesions and ulcers and accompanying generalized lymphadenopathy. Similar signs and symptoms, with varying degrees of severity, developed in 5 other family members living in the same household. The index case-patient and 2 of his siblings reported a history of having had contact with a neighbor’s monkey 1 month earlier, but it cannot be ascertained if the monkey was the source of their infection; the monkey had no known history of illness.

After identifying these cases as being suspected monkeypox, the NCDC immediately deployed epidemiologists to Bayelsa State to support detailed outbreak investigations. Health authorities in all states of the country were notified to establish enhanced surveillance based on a standardized case definition. As notification of suspected cases from other states increased, on October 9, 2017, the NCDC activated a national Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response to an unusual evolving outbreak. All relevant stakeholders (e.g., ministries of health, agriculture and animal health, and information) were mobilized for a robust response. The NCDC rapidly developed interim guidelines and protocols; disseminated them to all states; and implemented intensive surveillance, public sensitization, community mobilization, and case management accordingly across all states.

Laboratory diagnosis (by real-time PCR, IgM serology, and genomic sequencing) were initially undertaken at Institut Pasteur (Dakar, Senegal), Redeemer’s University Laboratory (Ede, Nigeria), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA). Further diagnostics took place later at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory with technical support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Figure

Thumbnail of Vesiculopustular rash on hand (A) and face (B) of patient with monkeypox.

Figure. Papulopustular rash on hand (A) and face (B) of patient with monkeypox.

On October 13, 2017, the NCDC received laboratory confirmation of a human monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria. As of November 17, 2017, a total of 146 suspected cases had been reported from 22 of the 36 states in Nigeria (Figure). Of the 134 cases for which samples were available (blood, lesion swab, and crust) collected during the reporting period, 107 were tested, and 42 samples from 14 states were laboratory confirmed as the West African clade of the monkeypox virus (Figure). Most (62%) of the laboratory-confirmed cases were in adults (21–40 years of age; median 30 years of age); the male:female ratio was 2:1. A 46-year-old male patient with confirmed monkeypox and a history of immunosuppressive illness died. For some patients with suspected (but ultimately deemed negative) cases of monkeypox, chickenpox (wild-type virus) was confirmed. Further analysis of the monkeypox-negative samples is ongoing.

Although detailed epidemiologic investigations to ascertain the source and route of transmission are ongoing, 3 family clusters were found, which might suggest some level of human-to-human transmission in this outbreak. For 1 of the families, the secondary attack rate was 71%. However, most patients had no obvious epidemiologic linkage or person-to-person contact, indicating a probable multiple-source outbreak or possibly previously unrecognized endemic disease. The zoonotic source(s) of the outbreak are currently unknown, and it is unclear what, if any, environmental or ecologic changes might have facilitated its sudden reemergence.

This large outbreak of West Africa clade human monkeypox (3,8,9) mostly affected adults. The NCDC continues response activities and investigations in collaboration with national and international partners. Further findings from our epidemiologic investigations and laboratory diagnostics, including genome sequencing, will add to the existing knowledge of West African monkeypox and help unravel uncertainties in the outbreak.

Dr. Yinka-Ogunleye is an epidemiologist at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria, and served as the incident manager for the monkeypox Emergency Operation Center. Her area of interest and work is infectious disease surveillance and response.

Top

Acknowledgment

We thank all state epidemiologists and Olajide Martins, Ibrahim Mamodu, Jillybeth Burgado, Inger Damon, Whitni Davidson, Jeffrey Doty, Yu Li, Anna Mandra, Victoria Olson, Sathesh Panayampalli, Mary Reynolds, and Michael Townsendt for their technical support.

Top

References

  1. World Health Organization. Monkeypox. Fact sheet November 2016 [cited 2017 Nov 22]. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs161/en/
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About monkeypox [cited 2017 Nov 23]. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html
  3. Breman  JG. Kalisa-Ruti, Steniowski MV, Zanotto E, Gromyko AI, Arita I. Human monkeypox 1970–1979. Bull World Health Organ. 1980;58:16582.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Eke  RA. Monkeypox in a four year old: a case report. West Afr Med J. 1972;•••:212.
  5. Hutin  YJF, Williams  RJ, Malfait  P, Pebody  R, Loparev  VN, Ropp  SL, et al. Outbreak of human monkeypox, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996 to 1997. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;7:4348. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. Durski  KN, McCollum  AM, Nakazawa  Y, Petersen  BW, Reynolds  MG, Briand  S, et al. Emergence of Monkeypox - West and Central Africa, 1970-2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67:30610. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Sejvar  JJ, Chowdary  Y, Schomogyi  M, Stevens  J, Patel  J, Karem  K, et al. Human monkeypox infection: a family cluster in the midwestern United States. J Infect Dis. 2004;190:183340. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Reynolds  MG, Davidson  WB, Curns  AT, Conover  CS, Huhn  G, Davis  JP, et al. Spectrum of infection and risk factors for human monkeypox, United States, 2003. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:13329. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. Foster  SO, Brink  EW, Hutchins  DL, Pifer  JM, Lourie  B, Moser  CR, et al. Human monkeypox. Bull World Health Organ. 1972;46:56976.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Top

Figure

Top

Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid2406.180017

Original Publication Date: April 04, 2018

Table of Contents – Volume 24, Number 6—June 2018

EID Search Options
presentation_01 Advanced Article Search – Search articles by author and/or keyword.
presentation_01 Articles by Country Search – Search articles by the topic country.
presentation_01 Article Type Search – Search articles by article type and issue.

Top

Comments

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Adesola Yinka-Ogunleye, Nigeria Centre For Disease Control–Disease Surveillance And Epidemiology, Plot 801, Ebitu Ukiwe St, Jabi Abuja Abuja Federal Capital Territory, 900108, Nigeria

Send To

10000 character(s) remaining.

Top

Page created: May 17, 2018
Page updated: May 17, 2018
Page reviewed: May 17, 2018
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external