LAGOS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed cases of monkeypox in Nigeria have risen to 36 this year as more cases were reported across the most populous African country, a report by health authorise said.

       The Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC) reported in its latest monkeypox situation report the country has recorded 141 suspected cases and 36 confirmed cases from 15 states since January.

       The report said a monkeypox national emergency operations center was set up in May after a risk assessment showed that Nigeria was at high risk for an outbreak.

       Monkeypox causes sudden fever, headache, body pain, weakness, sore throat, swollen glands in the neck and under the jaw, and a rash on the face, palms, soles of the feet, genital area, and other parts of the body.

       The World Health Organization said that the sudden appearance of monkeypox in several countries around the world shows that the virus has been spreading for a while outside of West and Central African countries, where it is usually found.