August 16, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has recorded 39 confirmed cases of monkeypox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, who made this known at a press briefing on the declaration of monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern on Thursday, however, said Nigeria has yet to record any fatality.
According to him, some states have been put on high alert, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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, adding that about 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries had been reported in 2024 alone.
Idris said the NCDC was redoubling surveillance across the country to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases. He added that the NCDC as well as port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land and foot crossing borders are on high alert.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), on Wednesday, declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency
The decision comes after the African Union’s health watchdog declared mpox public health emergency in the continent.
Mpox has swept through the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus formerly called monkeypox was first discovered in humans in 1970, and spread to other countries.
Tedros said the more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported so far this year in DR Congo have already exceeded last year’s total.
