The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that the country has recorded 39 cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) so far this year, with no deaths reported. The cases have been detected across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During a press briefing on Thursday, NCDC Director-General Jide Idris highlighted that the highest number of cases were recorded in Bayelsa (16), Cross River (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3). The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” following a surge in African cases.
Idris noted that mpox is endemic in Nigeria and several other Central and West African countries. He emphasized the ongoing efforts by the government to intensify surveillance and response activities across the nation, particularly through the National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), a multi-sectoral body within the NCDC.
“As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we are intensifying surveillance across Nigeria to detect and respond to any new cases swiftly. This includes putting all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert,” Idris stated.
Diagnostic protocols have been distributed to these locations, and port health officers are actively screening for suspected cases. Additionally, the NCDC is considering vaccination for high-risk groups, with Nigeria expected to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
Certain states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the FCT, have been placed on high alert. The NCDC is also conducting contact tracing and monitoring confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
