Nigeria has recorded a total of 39 confirmed cases of mpox and zero deaths across 33 states and Federal Capital Territory from the beginning of 2024.
Gatekeepers News reports that Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Director General, Dr Jide Idris disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Idris revealed that the country had so far recorded a total of 5,951 suspected cases, adding that 176 deaths have been recorded across 36 states, and FCT as of August 11, 2024.
Recall that Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday, declared a public health emergency over the growing Mpox outbreak on the continent, especially Democratic Republic of Congo.
A new viral strain, which first emerged in September 2023, has for the first time been detected outside DRC.
So far, about 2,863 confirmed mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.
The DG said, “In Nigeria, cumulatively, a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States + FCT, from the beginning of the year 2024. Bayelsa (five), Cross River (five), Ogun (four), Lagos (four), Ondo (three), and Ebonyi (three) lead the pack. “
“Noting the significant concern of the ease of cross-border transmission, this press conference is part of the effort to intensify our coordination and communication with stakeholders to manage the spread of the virus and prevent disease importation.”
Idris noted that National Mpox Technical Working Group, a multi-sectoral body housed within NCDC is coordinating Mpox response activities.
He said, “As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we have intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases. This puts all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert. Diagnostic protocols according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response are now distributed to these locations and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.”
“Some states have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba. We are also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread. This will now also include a declaration by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there has been an ongoing outbreak of mpox in the last 90 days.”
The DG revealed that the agency is considering vaccination efforts for high-risk groups, as Nigeria 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine will be delivered to the country.
Giving an update on cholera, he said, “As of August 11, 2024, a total of 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths have been recorded across 36 States, and the FCT and 152 LGAs with a case fatality rate of 3.0 per cent. This data reflects a continued increase in the number of cases being recorded across the country. So far, the most affected age groups are less than five years old.”
“The trend of suspected cholera cases is anticipated to exhibit fluctuations and may persist until Epidemic Week 37. This projection is consistent with the patterns observed in cholera outbreaks in Nigeria from 2020 to 2024. The current rainfall forecasts suggest that there may be an increase in the number of cases.”
“Contributing factors to the outbreak include high rates of open defecation, which lead to contamination of water sources through the runoff of fecal matter. In response, we will enhance both prevention strategies and case management measures to effectively address and mitigate the outbreak.”
