The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of Mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2024, with no deaths reported. This announcement comes as Mpox has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC).
Dr. Jide Idris, the Director General of the NCDC, provided these updates during a briefing that also addressed the ongoing outbreaks of cholera and other public health concerns. He highlighted Bayelsa State as having the highest number of confirmed Mpox cases (5), followed by Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos States, each with four cases.
Dr. Idris emphasized the NCDC’s efforts to monitor and manage the spread of Mpox, particularly in light of the disease’s ease of cross-border transmission. He noted that about 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries in 2024, with a new strain of the virus originating from eastern Congo.
In response to the outbreak, the NCDC has intensified surveillance and coordination efforts, especially at Nigeria’s international airports, seaports, and land borders. The agency is also conducting contact tracing, issuing alerts to public and private hospitals, and considering vaccination efforts, with Nigeria expecting to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine for high-risk groups.
Dr. Idris described Mpox as a rare viral zoonotic disease endemic to Central and West Africa, primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or humans. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that typically begins on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.
To prevent the spread of Mpox, the NCDC advises the public to avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus, maintain good hand hygiene, and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility or the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.
The NCDC, through its National Mpox Technical Working Group, remains committed to safeguarding public health and providing evidence-based guidance to mitigate the impact of the virus in Nigeria.
