- The NCDC reports 40 confirmed cases of MPox in Nigeria this year, with 830 suspected cases across 13 states and no deaths
- Nigeria is set to receive vaccine doses from the U.S. government to combat the MPox outbreak amid ongoing surveillance efforts
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 40 confirmed cases of MPox (formerly known as monkeypox) in Nigeria since the beginning of the year, with no recorded deaths. The NCDC’s Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this information during a joint national MPox briefing with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Abuja on Friday.
Dr. Idris stated that 830 suspected cases of the disease have been reported across 13 states in Nigeria. The affected regions include the South-South, South-East, Lagos, Ogun, and northern states. He emphasized that while Nigeria is currently at moderate risk for the disease, active surveillance efforts are ongoing to detect and reduce the number of cases.
The WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) have both declared MPox a Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern (PHEIC/PHECC) due to its spread across the continent. Dr. Idris highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant, especially considering reported cases in Europe, Asia, and other regions, noting that Nigeria will not be safe until the global threat is under control.
To combat the outbreak, Nigeria is set to receive many vaccine doses through a donation from the U.S. government. Dr. Idris acknowledged the global shortage of vaccines and the challenges in meeting the high demand.
Nigeria has established an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for MPox and an incident management system in response to the outbreak. The NCDC has also engaged with state governments to establish emergency preparedness and response teams at the sub-national level, in coordination with local government areas.
Dr. Idris mentioned that all confirmed MPox cases were verified through genomic sequencing at the National Research Lab in Abuja and a facility in Lagos. Given the spread of the disease, the NCDC plans to increase the number of laboratories capable of testing for MPox, including those at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID). Additionally, the NCDC aims to enhance laboratory capabilities, particularly in South and South-East regions, through training and providing necessary reagents and consumables.