- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded 39 cases of mpox
- The Director General of the agency said efforts are being intensified to ensure early detection and response to new cases
- NCDC placed port health services at international airports and some states on high alert
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 39 confirmed cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with no deaths recorded. The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, shared this update during a press briefing on Thursday, where mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Idris disclosed that the NCDC is intensifying surveillance efforts across Nigeria to ensure early detection and response to new cases. He also mentioned that all port health services at Nigeria's five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders are on high alert.
In addition to these measures, certain states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been placed on high alert.
According to TheCable, Idris said Bayelsa State recorded five cases, Cross River State recorded five, Ogun State recorded four, Lagos State recorded four, Ondo State recorded three and Ebonyi State recorded three cases.
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”.
“This will now also include declarations by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there has been an ongoing outbreak of MPX in the last 90 days.
“The NCDC is also notifying public and private hospitals about the mpox alert and sending a list of referral isolation/treatment centres across the 6 geopolitical zones and reference.”
On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, citing concerns over the rising cases in some parts of Africa.
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Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that authorities established that the most recent cholera outbreak in Nigeria was caused by the consumption of an unregistered tiger nut drink.
The special health adviser to the Lagos state governor, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, identified tiger nut drink as a significant denominator