Cross Rivers, Lagos lead as Mpox spreads to 63 LGs in 25 states, FCT

Mpox has spread to 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), affecting 63 local government areas in Nigeria, according to the latest situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The report, obtained on Tuesday, reveals that from January 1 to October 6, 2024, 1,297 suspected cases were recorded, with 94 confirmed. In epidemiology week 40 of 2024, 47 new suspected cases were reported, compared to 67 in the previous week. Six cases were confirmed in week 40, down from 10 in week 39.

“Twenty-five states and the FCT have recorded at least one confirmed case across 63 LGAs in 2024,” the NCDC noted.

The report also highlighted that since September 2017, Nigeria has recorded 5,114 suspected mpox cases and 1,180 confirmed cases across 35 states and the FCT, resulting in 17 deaths. Males account for approximately 70% of the confirmed cases.

States with confirmed cases include Cross River with 11 cases; Lagos: 10; Plateau: 8; Enugu: 8; Akwa Ibom: 8; Delta: 6; Bayelsa: 6; FCT: 5; Imo: 4; Benue: 4; Rivers: 3; Abia: 3; Osun: 2; Ogun: 2; Edo: 2; Anambra: 2; Zamfara: 1; Oyo: 1; Niger: 1; Nasarawa: 1; Kebbi: 1; Katsina: 1; Kaduna: 1; Gombe: 1; Ebonyi: 1; and Adamawa: 1.

The Guardian reports that Ogun State leads with 222 suspected cases, followed by Lagos (153), Bayelsa (125), Cross River (84), and Akwa Ibom (65). Other states with suspected cases include Ekiti: 63; Enugu: 59; Osun: 56; Ondo: 41; Delta: 38; Imo: 36; Abia: 34; Plateau: 34; FCT: 28; Rivers: 27; Anambra: 24; Adamawa: 22; Benue: 21; Kebbi: 19; Edo: 17; Oyo: 16; Gombe: 16; Nasarawa: 14; Ebonyi: 11; Kaduna: 10; Kogi: 9; Zamfara: 9; Katsina: 9; Taraba: 8; Kwara: 6; Bauchi: 6; Kano: 5; Jigawa: 4; Sokoto: 3; Yobe: 1; Borno: 1; and Niger: 1

The age distribution of cumulative number of confirmed cases in 2024 showed that ages 0-10 recorded 24 cases; ages 11-20 recorded 15 cases; ages 21-30 recorded 25; ages 31-40 recorded 14 cases; ages 41-50 recorded 12 cases; ages 50 and above recorded four cases.

The NCDC added that the National Mpox Emergency Operation Centre continues to coordinate response efforts, ensuring a multi-sectoral approach.