The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported on Thursday that the country has recorded 39 confirmed cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the start of 2024, with no reported deaths.
This was disclosed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, during a press conference in Abuja.
Dr. Idris also noted that as of August 11, 2024, Nigeria had recorded 5,951 suspected cases of mpox and 176 deaths across all 36 states and the FCT.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) recently declared a public health emergency due to the growing mpox outbreak across the continent, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a new viral strain, detected outside the DRC for the first time, has caused significant concern.
The NCDC’s report highlights that Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi states have recorded the highest number of confirmed mpox cases in Nigeria this year.
Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of intensified coordination and communication with stakeholders to manage the spread of the virus, especially given the risk of cross-border transmission.
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans, and is endemic in several African countries, particularly in Central and West Africa.
The virus can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with infected animals or their body fluids, and from humans to humans through contact with contaminated materials or bodily fluids of infected individuals.
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