The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the beginning of 2024, with no fatalities reported.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris highlighted the rising spread of mpox, which has led the Africa Centre for Disease Control to declare a public health emergency, particularly in response to a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Dr. Idris, the mpox outbreak has extended beyond the DRC, resulting in 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries so far this year.
In Nigeria, states with the highest number of confirmed cases include Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi.
Dr. Idris stressed the need for enhanced coordination and communication efforts to curb the virus’s spread, warning of the potential for cross-border transmission.
Mpox, a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, presents with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that spreads across the body.
The NCDC has intensified nationwide surveillance, increased vigilance at all ports, and initiated contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
In addition to the mpox update, Dr. Idris provided an update on the cholera outbreak in Nigeria, revealing that it has led to 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths as of August 11, 2024.
The outbreak has affected all 36 states and the FCT, with a case fatality rate of 3.0%. Children under five years old are identified as the most vulnerable.
The NCDC attributes the cholera outbreak to widespread open defecation, which contaminates water sources and accelerates the spread of the disease.
