The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of MPox in the country, with zero deaths in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The states with the highest cases include Bayelsa (5), Cross River (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3).
Director-general of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, expressed concern over the ease of cross-border transmission of the disease.
He said, “In Nigeria, 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States + FCT since the beginning of 2024.”
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease endemic in several African countries, including the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. The exact reservoir of the virus is still unknown, although rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a part in transmission.
Mpox has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International /Continental Concern (PHEIC / PHECC) by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC).
Regarding the government‘s efforts to control the outbreak, the DG said that surveillance has been intensified across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases.
“This puts all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert. Diagnostic protocols according to the IDSR are now distributed to these locations, and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.
“Some states have also been on high alert, including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba. We also conduct contact tracing and monitor for confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
This will now also include a declaration by travelers who have been to any of the countries where there is an ongoing outbreak of MPX in the last 90 days,“ he added.
He also said that the federal government was considering vaccination efforts for high-risk groups, as Nigeria expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
Dr. Jide urged the public to adhere to proven infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of Mpox.