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Umenzekwe Chukwudi Christian

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital

Publishes on Poxvirus research and outbreaks, Malaria Research and Control, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research. 3 papers and 86 citations.

3Publications
86Total Citations

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Mpox Epidemiology and Risk Factors, Nigeria, 2022
Dimie Ogoina, Mahmmod Muazu Dalhat, Ballah Akawu Denue et al.|Emerging infectious diseases|2024
Cited by 25Open Access

To investigate epidemiology of and risk factors for laboratory-confirmed mpox during the 2022 outbreak in Nigeria, we enrolled 265 persons with suspected mpox. A total of 163 (61.5%) were confirmed to have mpox; 137 (84.0%) were adults, 112 (68.7%) male, 143 (87.7%) urban/semi-urban dwellers, 12 (7.4%) self-reported gay men, and 3 (1.8%) female sex workers. Significant risk factors for adults were sexual and nonsexual contact with persons who had mpox, as well as risky sexual behavior. For children, risk factors were close contact with an mpox-positive person and prior animal exposure. Odds of being mpox positive were higher for adults with HIV and lower for those co-infected with varicella zoster virus (VZV). No children were HIV-seropositive; odds of being mpox positive were higher for children with VZV infection. Our findings indicate mpox affects primarily adults in Nigeria, partially driven by sexual activity; childhood cases were driven by close contact, animal exposure, and VZV co-infection.

Malaria Vector Abundance and the Incidence of Malaria Parasite amongst Students Living in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Hostels
Ebuka Kingsley Ezihe, Egbuche Chukwudi Micheal, Nwankwo N. Edith et al.|International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health|2019
Cited by 8Open Access

Introduction: Malaria remains an important public health disease in both tropical and subtropical countries of Africa where transmission is mainly through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
 Aim: The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite and the abundance of malaria vectors in and around the university hostels. 
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in some selected hostels of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, from the month of March to September, 2018.
 Methodology: One hundred and fifty (150) students which volunteered from the selected hostels were tested for malaria parasite. Questionnaire on the frequency of clinical symptoms were distributed to these students. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected through pyrethrum spray-sheet collection (PSC).Larval sampling was carried out for the immature stages of mosquitoes.
 Results: Of the students examined for malaria parasite, 135 (90%) showed positivity to the parasite. From the questionnaire distributed, 30 (20%) of the students were treated for malaria every 3months, 20(13.3%) every 6 months, 24 (16%) before resuming school, and 76(50.7%) only treated when they developed clinical malaria. Two hundred and two (202) mosquito larvae were collected from their breeding habitats during larval sampling and two hundred and four (204) adult mosquitoes of different species were collected indoors. However there was no significant difference between the number of rooms sampled and the number of mosquitoes collected at 5% level of significance (x2tab > x2cal; 9.488 >6.307).
 Conclusion: The study revealed that the students living in the hostels were highly exposed to malaria infection and a host of other mosquito borne diseases. The abundance of Anopheles gambiae sensu lacto in the university environment and the high prevalence rate of malaria is an indication of continuous transmission in the area. Therefore re-echoed awareness campaigns on the danger of malaria infection and its prevention and control through personal and environmental management should be carried out to educate all students especially those who attended medical check-ups during registration.