The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria has recorded a total of 39 confirmed cases of mpox and zero deaths across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory this year.
Director-general of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja.
He also said the country has so far recorded a total of 5,951 suspected cholera cases and 176 deaths across 36 states, and the FCT as of August 11, 2024.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday declared a public health emergency over the growing Mpox outbreak on the continent.
The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
So far, there have been about 2,863 confirmed mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.
In Nigeria, a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States + FCT, from the beginning of the year 2024.
The states are: Bayelsa (five), Cross River (five), Ogun (four), Lagos (four), Ondo (three), and Ebonyi (three).
Idris said the press conference is part of efforts to intensify coordination and communication with stakeholders to manage the spread of the virus and prevent disease importation, considering the ease of cross-border transmission.
The NCDC DG noted that the National Mpox Technical Working Group, a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, continues to coordinate Mpox response activities.
“Some states have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba. We are also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread. This will now also include a declaration by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there has been an ongoing outbreak of mpox in the last 90 days,” he said.
He stated that the agency is considering vaccination efforts for high-risk groups, as Nigeria expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
