The government of Nigeria has prohibited the sale of bushmeat as a precaution against the spread of monkeypox in the country.
This month, six cases have been reported to bring the number to 21 confirmed infections this year, said the authorities.
As per the experts, a person can likely be infected with the virus by eating the meat of an infected animal, but this is an infrequent transmission route.
Monkeypox, which is a mild viral infection, is common in Nigeria. It is found mainly in remote regions, around tropical rainforests. The country has had irregular cases since the outbreak in 2017. The virus was first found in the south of the country, but in 2020, it has also spread to eastern, central and northern parts, stated the World Health Organisation.
There has been one reported death of an individual who suffered from the same virus out of the 21 confirmed cases this year. But earlier this week, the health authorities stated there had been no report of new or unusual transmission of monkeypox, nor changes in its documented clinical manifestation.
Scientists are struggling to describe the recent increase in cases of monkeypox in Europe, which are not even linked to travel to African nations where it is found. But there are predictions that the virus has been spreading from human to human for some time undetected.
Monkeypox can be spread when an individual is close to someone already infected. The virus can enter the body via broken skin, the eyes or through the respiratory tract, nose as well as mouth.
Those infected in the UK have been urged to avoid having sex while suffering symptoms.
The animals through which the virus can be passed are infected rodents, including rats and squirrels. As per health experts, this can occur if someone is bitten or touches an infected animal.
