The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a high alert for an Mpox outbreak in several states across the country.
The Director-General of NCDC,Dr. Jide Idris, identified Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba as states currently at high risk.
According to DailyTrust, Dr. Idris during a press briefing on Thursday, provided updates on the Mpox outbreak in Africa and the ongoing cholera outbreak in Nigeria.
He highlighted that both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern (PHEIC/PHECC).
The alarming rise in cases is linked to a new strain of the Mpox virus, initially identified in eastern Congo and now detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
In Nigeria, 39 confirmed Mpox cases have been reported across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the beginning of 2024, with no recorded deaths.
The states with the highest number of cases include Bayelsa and Cross River with five cases each, Ogun and Lagos with four cases each, and Ondo and Ebonyi with three cases each.
The NCDC’s National Mpox Technical Working Group continues to lead the response efforts.
Dr. Idris emphasized the government’s intensified surveillance measures, including heightened monitoring at all international airports, seaports, and land borders.
Diagnostic protocols have been distributed to these locations, and port health officers are on high alert for suspected cases.
The NCDC is also conducting contact tracing and monitoring of confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
Additionally, travelers who have recently visited countries with ongoing Mpox outbreaks are required to declare their travel history.
Healthcare workers and the public are being provided with updated guidance on infection prevention and control.
The federal government is considering vaccination efforts for high-risk groups, with Nigeria expecting to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease, primarily found in Central and West African tropical rainforests. While the exact reservoir of the virus is unknown, rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected carriers. The virus can spread from animals to humans and between humans.
Regarding the cholera outbreak, Dr. Idris reported 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths across 36 states and the FCT as of August 11, 2024.
He noted that the outbreak, which disproportionately affects children under five, is expected to continue until at least Epidemic Week 37.
The NCDC is enhancing prevention strategies and case management to combat the spread of cholera, exacerbated by high rates of open defecation and contaminated water sources.
