Mpox: 39 cases recorded in Nigeria with zero death, says NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has recorded 39 confirmed cases of mpox but with zero death in the country.

Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing to declare mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.

According to Idris, the 39 confirmed cases of mpox were recorded across 33 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He added that the NCDC is stepping up surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases.

“The NCDC all port health services across all 5 international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders are on high alert,” Idris said.

“Some states have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday, meanwhile, declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency.

The organization said it is worried by the rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the spread to nearby countries.

As a result, WHO called a meeting of experts to study the outbreak and make a recommendation to the United Nations (UN) health agency’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” Tedros said at a press conference.

“This is something that should concern us all. WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.”

According to Tedros, the more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported so far in 2024 in DR Congo have already exceeded last year’s total.