Abstract
Background Mpox disease formally known as Monkeypox is an ongoing public health emergency of international concern associated with high morbidity/mortality with current global burden of 88122 cases, 1,211 probable cases with 148 deaths and CFR =0.17%. In Nigeria, Bayelsa State reported the first mpox case in 2017. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology of mpox in the State. This study therefore aimed to explore the overall prevalence, trends of mpox disease in Bayelsa State.
Methods We reviewed surveillance data on mpox cases from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, between November 2017 to March 2023. Data was cleaned and analysed using Stata (v15.0) while results were presented with Descriptive statistic and charts.
Results A total of 242 Mpox cases were reported in eight local government areas (LGA) of Bayelsa State, with majority (64.9%) being males, and below age twenty (34.6%) and from Yenagoa (64.2%), the state capital. The mean age (±SD) was 24.4 (±14.7). Meanwhile, 97.9% of patients did not travel out of their LGA in the two weeks preceding symptom onset. The proportion of mpox cases was markedly reduced consistently from 47.8% in 2017 to 6.6% in 2018 and 4.1% in 2020, with an upsurge of 50.0% in 2022. Out of the 242 cases, 43.4% were classified as discarded case, 35.1% confirmed cases, 21.5% suspected cases with 1 death and CFR =1.2%. Most of the cases (84.6%) had primary or no education, and 46.5% were pupil/student engaged in low-income occupations. The disease is symptomatic in majority (86.8%) of the cases, 10.8% of affected patient presented with Cutaneous eruption.
Conclusion The findings suggest local transmission dynamics propel Mpox mostly among those with low income and limited education. Strengthening laboratory diagnostics and outbreak response capacity is therefore recommended.
