The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 67 cases of Mpox from 1,031 suspected cases across 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
This was disclosed during a briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The states with confirmed cases include Akwa Ibom (8), Enugu (8), Bayelsa (6), Cross River (5), Benue (4), Plateau (4), Delta (4), FCT (3), Imo (3), Lagos (3), Rivers (2), Abia (2), Osun (2), Anambra (2), and Ogun (2).
Other states reporting one confirmed case each are Kaduna, Gombe, Edo, Niger, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kebbi, and Oyo.
NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, highlighted the agency’s efforts to strengthen surveillance and prevent further spread.
“We are working with the port health authority to prevent the importation of Clade I of Mpox into the country, particularly in border states,” Idris stated.
He also noted the need for enhanced laboratory capacity.
“We have laboratories across the country, but not all are equipped to test for Mpox.
We are optimizing our facilities to improve detection and reduce the need for transporting samples across states,” he added.
The NCDC is also intensifying awareness campaigns to inform the public about the disease.
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, as well as between humans.
It is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, with transmission from animals occurring through direct contact with infected animals like monkeys, squirrels, and rodents.
Human-to-human transmission typically occurs through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated materials.
Symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash that starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, including the palms, soles, and genital areas, making sexual contact a possible route of transmission.
