Nigeria has reported 67 confirmed cases of Mpox out of 1,031 suspected cases across 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The announcement was made during a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
The affected states include Akwa-Ibom (eight cases), Enugu (eight), Bayelsa (six), Cross River (five), Benue (four), Plateau (four), Delta (four), and FCT (three). Additional cases have been confirmed in Imo, Lagos, Rivers, Abia, Osun, and Anambra, among others.
Speaking at the briefing, NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, highlighted efforts to enhance surveillance and detection in the states. “We are working closely with the port health authority and border states to prevent the importation of Clade I of Mpox into the country,” Idris said. He added that the NCDC is optimizing its laboratories to improve testing capabilities and reduce the need to transport samples across states.
Mpox, a zoonotic viral disease, is endemic to parts of Central and West Africa. It can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans, typically through direct contact with infected animals or individuals. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash that begins on the face and spreads to the body, with sexual contact considered a possible route of transmission. The NCDC is intensifying awareness efforts to curb the spread of the disease.