Mpox Outbreak Spreads Across Nigeria, 48 Confirmed Cases Recorded
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed eight new cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 48, out of 868 suspected cases across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the latest situation report, the outbreak has spread to 35 Local Government Areas, with 19 states and the FCT recording one confirmed case each. A notable surge was observed in week 34, with eight confirmed cases reported, compared to just one case in week 33.
The NCDC report also revealed that no deaths have been recorded from the outbreak so far, and the agency continues to monitor the situation and provide updates on the outbreak. The records show that Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Delta, Imo, Edo, FCT, Anambra, Cross River, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Oyo, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu, Osun, Kebbi, and Zamfara have all recorded at least one confirmed case.
The report also highlighted the age distribution of the cumulative number of confirmed cases, showing that 17 cases were recorded among ages 0-10, seven cases among ages 11-20, nine cases among 21-30, eight cases among ages 31-40, and seven cases among ages 41-50.
In a bid to combat the outbreak, Nigeria received 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine as a donation from the United States government. The vaccine, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of smallpox and Mpox in adults at risk, was officially handed over to the Nigerian government in a ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also reinforced its declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) after a 160% increase in cases this year.
