The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has confirmed 39 cases of Mpox in the country.

The agency however said that so far, no death has been recorded from the disease which it disclosed, were confirmed in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed these at a press conference, he held Thursday evening, in Abuja,to provide updates on the ongoing outbreaks of cholera, mPox, and other events of public health importance.

The development came following the declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern, PHEIC, by both the World Health Organisation, WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,ACDC.

Idris named Bayelsa as leading the 33 states with five confirmed cases while Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, all trailed behind with four confirmed cases.

“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has been closely monitoring several endemic diseases including mPox which has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International / Continental Concern (PHEIC / PHECC) by both the WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC).

“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 (5),Cross River (4), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3) leading 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,”he said.

Idris also said so far, about 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.
According to him, “This alarming increase is linked to a new strain of the Mpox virus which emerged in eastern Congo and has since been detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.”

He said the National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, would continue to coordinate Mpox response activities.

He spoke further:” As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we are intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases.
“This putting all port health services across all five international airports, ten seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert.

”Diagnostic protocols according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Control,
IDSR 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 declaration by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there is an ongoing outbreak of MPX in the last 90 days. Additionally, we continue to provide healthcare workers and the public with updated guidance on infection prevention and control measures and train SURGE staff as part of our preparedness and readiness for an MPX public health event.

” The NCDC is also notifying public and private hospitals about the MPX alert and sending a list of referral isolation/treatment centers across the 6 geopolitical zones and reference laboratory networks which includes NRL, CPHL, NIMR, LUTH, ACEGID, UNTH, UPTH.