Following the declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has stepped up its efforts to combat the outbreak.
This was revealed by the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference.
He said that while 39 confirmed cases of Mpox have been recorded in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), no deaths have been recorded yet. However, he said five states are currently leading the infection chart.
He said: “In Nigeria, in total, there have been 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), since the beginning of the year 2024. Bayelsa (five), Cross River (five), Ogun (four), Lagos (four), Ondo (three) and Ebonyi (three) lead the pack.”
Update on cholera
Mr. Idris, who also provided an update on cholera, stated that as of August 11, a total of 5,951 suspected cholera cases and 176 deaths had been reported across 36 states and FCT, with 152 Local Government Areas (LGAs) affected.
He noted that the case fatality rate stands at 3.0 percent. The data indicate a continued rise in cases across the country, with children under five being the most affected age group.
According to him, the trend of suspected cholera cases is expected to fluctuate and may persist until week 37 of the epidemic, consistent with patterns observed in previous outbreaks in Nigeria from 2020 to 2024. The current rainfall forecast suggests a possible increase in cases.
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The outbreak is attributed to high rates of open defecation, which leads to contamination of water sources through fecal runoff. To combat the outbreak, we will enhance both prevention strategies and case management measures to effectively address and mitigate the situation.
About Mpox
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease endemic in several African countries, including the rainforests of central and western Africa. The exact reservoir of the virus remains unknown, although rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a role in transmission. Mpox virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to humans.
Transmission from animal to human can occur through direct contact with blood, body fluids, skin or mucosal lesions of infected animals such as monkeys, squirrels and rodents, potentially through a bite, scratch, handling or consumption of undercooked infected wild meat or other products.
Person-to-person transmission occurs when an individual comes into contact with the virus from an infected person or from materials contaminated with the virus, such as clothing or bedding.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, body aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, and rash. After about one to three days of fever, the rash appears, initially on the face, which then spreads to the body, primarily affecting the face and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rash can also appear on and around the genitals, so contact during sexual activity is another mode of transmission.
Government efforts
The NCDC said it is stepping up surveillance and control measures in response to the outbreak.
These measures include enhanced contact tracing and follow-up, declaration of travelers who have been in countries with current Mpox outbreaks, distribution of diagnostic protocols to port health services, high alert at international airports, seaports and land borders, and training of health workers on infection prevention and control measures.
The Director-General also revealed that Nigeria is also expecting to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine for high-risk groups.
He also urged the public to adhere to proven infection prevention and control measures, including avoiding contact with animals that may harbor the virus, washing hands frequently and properly cooking animal foods.
The Mpox National Technical Working Group continues to coordinate Mpox response activities, and NCDC remains committed to providing evidence-based guidance to inform the country’s next steps in protecting public health, he said.