By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 39 mpox (monkeypox) cases and zero deaths have been recorded in the country this year.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” after a surge in cases recorded in Africa.
Mpox is endemic in Nigeria and many countries in Central and West Africa.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Jide Idris, NCDC director-general (DG), said the cases were recorded across 33 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
He said Bayelsa (16), Cross River (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3) have recorded the highest cases of mpox. “The national mpox technical working group (TWG), a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, continues to coordinate mpox response activities,” he said.
“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”
He added that 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