The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 40 confirmed cases of Mpox out of a total of 830 suspected cases across the country. This update was shared by NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, during a briefing with stakeholders and partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), in Abuja.
Dr. Idris stated that despite the high number of suspected cases, no deaths have been recorded so far. He also shared that the NCDC has taken significant steps to manage the outbreak, including setting up an Emergency Operations Centre and an Incident Management System. These systems have been in place since Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
“We have developed an incident action plan to address each area, using various pillars,” Dr. Idris explained. He also emphasized that the agency is working closely with state governments and health commissioners to improve emergency preparedness and response across all regions.
In addition to these efforts, the WHO Nigeria Country Office revealed that Nigeria would soon receive doses of the Mpox vaccine through a donation from the U.S. Government.
Surveillance remains a critical aspect of the NCDC’s response. The confirmed cases are spread across 12 to 13 states, with the highest concentration in the South-South and South-East regions, along with some cases in Lagos and Ogun. Dr. Idris stated that targeted efforts are being made to contain the outbreak in these areas and improve early detection of new cases.
The NCDC has also prioritized enhancing laboratory services to support Mpox testing. Currently, genomic sequencing is conducted at the National Research Lab in Abuja and another lab in Lagos. However, there are plans to increase testing capacity at other labs, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Centre for Genomics.
Efforts are also being made to boost public awareness about Mpox, with campaigns focusing on educating the public about symptoms, prevention, and the importance of early reporting. Challenges remain, particularly around data collection, but Dr. Idris assured that these issues are being addressed.
