The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 39 confirmed cases of mpox this year, with no recorded deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a "public health emergency of international concern" on August 14, 2024, following a surge in cases across Africa.
According to WHO, mpox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to but less severe than smallpox.
Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox continues to appear occasionally in some parts of Africa.
During a press briefing on Thursday, August 15, the NCDC director-general, Jide Idris, revealed that 39 cases were detected across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said that Bayelsa reported the highest number of cases with 16, followed by Cross River (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3).
He said: “The National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, continues to coordinate mpox response activities.”
“As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we are intensifying surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases.
This is putting all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert.
“Diagnostic protocols are now distributed to these locations, and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.”
Idris said the NCDC is also considering vaccination for high-risk groups, noting that “Nigeria expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.”
According to him, some states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the FCT, have been put on high alert.
“We are also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread,” the NCDC DG said.
“This will now also include declarations by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there has been an ongoing outbreak of MPX in the last 90 days.
“The NCDC is also notifying public and private hospitals about the mpox alert and sending a list of referral isolation/treatment centres across the 6 geopolitical zones and reference.
Idris also gave an update on the cholera outbreak, noting that 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths have been recorded across 36 states and the FCT, with a case fatality rate of 3 percent as of August 11.
“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,” he said.
In a related development, Swedish authorities have reported the country's first case of the more dangerous mpox variant, marking the first occurrence of this strain outside Africa.
The Swedish government announced on Thursday that the individual contracted the Clade 1 variant, known for its high infectiousness and severity while travelling to an African region currently facing a significant outbreak.
This variant differs from Clade 2, which was identified in Sweden in 2022 and, while concerning, was relatively mild.
The Swedish Health Agency has confirmed the case and stressed the need for heightened vigilance and monitoring in response to this more severe strain of the virus.
