Notes from the Field: Responding to an Outbreak of Monkeypox Using the One Health Approach — Nigeria, 2017–2018

Abstract

On 22 September 2017, a suspected human case of monkeypox was reported to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) from Bayelsa State in southern Nigeria. This report summarizes the findings of a multisectoral, international outbreak investigation that was undertaken to identify sources and risk factors for infection and to control its spread. As of 25 February 2018, a total of 228 suspected cases (including 89 confirmed and 3 probable cases) had been investigated in 24 of 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Six deaths (6.7%) were recorded among the 89 confirmed cases. The outbreak has not been declared over, and NCDC continues to collect data to develop a baseline level for this disease, which had not been reported in 40 years and now might be endemic to Nigeria. Given the zoonotic nature of the disease, this outbreak has required a robust One Health outbreak collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health institutions.