The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the start of 2024, with no fatalities reported.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris shared that the increasing spread of mpox has prompted the Africa Centre for Disease Control to declare a public health emergency, particularly due to the severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
So far in 2024, the mpox outbreak has spread beyond the DRC, resulting in 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths across 13 African nations. In Nigeria, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi are among the states with the highest number of confirmed cases.
Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of enhanced coordination and communication efforts to curb the spread of the virus, noting the potential for cross-border transmission.
Mpox, a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans, is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that spreads across the body.
The NCDC has heightened surveillance nationwide, increasing vigilance at all ports and conducting contact tracing to prevent further spread.
In addition to the mpox update, Dr. Idris provided details on the cholera outbreak in Nigeria, which has led to 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths as of August 11, 2024.
The outbreak has affected all 36 states and the FCT, with a case fatality rate of 3.0%, and children under five years old being the most vulnerable.
The NCDC attributes the cholera outbreak to widespread open defecation, which contaminates water sources and exacerbates the spread of the disease.
