The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 39 confirmed cases of mpox across the country this year, with no fatalities recorded. This announcement comes on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” following a surge in cases across Africa.
NCDC Director-General Jide Idris revealed that the cases span 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi reporting the highest numbers. The agency has activated a national mpox technical working group to coordinate response activities.
In response to the outbreak, Nigeria is ramping up surveillance efforts nationwide. Port health services at all international entry points, including five airports, ten seaports, and 51 land borders, are now on high alert. Diagnostic protocols have been distributed to these locations to facilitate rapid detection and response.
The NCDC is also considering vaccination for high-risk groups, with Nigeria expecting to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine. Several states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, and others, have been placed on high alert.
Contact tracing and monitoring of confirmed cases are underway to prevent further spread. The agency is notifying public and private hospitals about the mpox alert and establishing referral isolation and treatment centers across the six geopolitical zones.
In a related development, Idris provided an update on the ongoing cholera outbreak, reporting 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths across the country as of August 11, with a case fatality rate of 3 percent.
