BACKGROUND
The disease mpox (formerly monkeypox) is caused by the monkeypox virus (commonly abbreviated as MPXV), an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. The two genetic clades of the virus are clades I and II.
The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970). Mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animals to people. Following eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa. A global outbreak occurred in 2022–2023. The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown – various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
The viral transmission can occur in several ways.
• The person-to-person transmission of mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on genitals; this includes contact which is
• face-to-face (talking or breathing)
• skin-to-skin (touching or vaginal/anal sex)
• mouth-to-mouth (kissing)
• mouth-to-skin contact (oral sex or kissing the skin)
• respiratory droplets or short-range aerosols from prolonged close contact. Common symptoms of mpox are rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes. For some people, the first symptom of mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The WHO has declared a global health emergency following the recent outbreak of the monkeypox virus. There are concerns about the possible wide spread of the incident to other parts of Africa and the chances of reaching other parts of the world. The Nigeria Centre forDisease Control (NCDC) has reported thirty-nine (39) positive cases across the 36 states of federation and FCT, Abuja.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Monkeypox is another level of public health challenge that requires workable actions to combat. The empirical clinical diagnosis of Monkeypox viral infection is often difficult, especially early in the course of the disease.
Definitive diagnosis requires testing that is available only in laboratories. Laboratory specimens may be hazardous and must be handled with extreme care once collected. Monkeypox virus infections can only be diagnosed definitively in the laboratory using the following tests: QIAstat Realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay: A single instrument point of Care Testing System. Open Realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay: This process requires a full designed Molecular Laboratory with all necessary Extraction and Amplification Equipments.
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Kindly see Appendix 1 below for the instrument and the listed Organisms. We anticipate your kind response. In the meantime, you can easily reach us on 02013300235 or 02013309088.