Lara Adejoro
Nigeria has recorded 55 confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) from 935 suspected cases across 39 local government areas in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said.
This is according to the Mpox situation report for week 35, ending September 1, 2024, obtained from the NCDC on Monday.
The report, however, showed that no death has been recorded from the disease so far this year.
According to the report, 70 per cent of the cases were reported among males, while the female reported 30 per cent.
The age distribution of the cumulative number of confirmed Mpox cases showed that 19 cases were recorded among ages 0-10; eight cases were recorded among ages 11-20; 12 cases were recorded among 21-30; eight cases were recorded among ages 31-40; seven cases were recorded among ages 41-50; and one case was recorded among ages 50 and above.
The confirmed cases were reported in Enugu (eight); Bayelsa (six); Akwa-Ibom (six); Cross River (five); Delta (three); Benue (three); Plateau (three); Osun (two); Imo (two); FCT (two); Anambra (two); Rivers (two); Abia (two); Lagos (one); Kebbi (one); Nasarawa (one); Edo (one); Ebonyi (one); Zamfara (one); Oyo (one); Kaduna (one); and Niger (one).
It added that, “Since September 2017, 4,752 suspected cases have been reported from 36 states and the FCT, with 1,141 confirmed cases (24.0 per cent) from 35 States and the FCT with 17 deaths. Males (~70 per cent) are predominantly affected.”
The NCDC noted that the National Mpox multi-sectoral and multi-partner Emergency Operation Centre continues to coordinate the response in the country.
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is caused by the Mpox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes the variola virus (the cause of smallpox), the vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox eradication vaccine), and the cowpox virus (used in earlier smallpox vaccines). Following the eradication of smallpox, the Mpox virus has emerged as the most significant Orthopoxvirus.
On August 13, 2024, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared Mpox a public health emergency of continental security, acting under its mandate to address significant public health threats.
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