Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 55 confirmed cases of monkeypox (Mpox) out of 935 suspected cases across 39 local government areas in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NCDC’s Mpox situation report for week 35, ending September 1, 2024, disclosed that no deaths have been recorded from the disease so far this year.
The report showed that 70 per cent of the confirmed cases were males, while 30 per cent were among females.
The age distribution of the cases revealed that the majority were among young adults, with 19 cases recorded among ages 0-10, eight cases among 11-20, 12 cases among 21-30, eight cases among ages 31-40, seven cases among ages 41-50, and one case among ages 50 and above.
The confirmed cases were reported in Enugu (eight), Bayelsa (six), Akwa-Ibom (six), Cross River (five), Delta (three), Benue (three), Plateau (three), Osun (two), Imo (two), FCT (two), Anambra (two), Rivers (two), Abia (two), Lagos (one), Kebbi (one), Nasarawa (one), Edo (one), Ebonyi (one), Zamfara (one), Oyo (one), Kaduna (one), and Niger (one).
Since September 2017, 4,752 suspected cases have been reported from 36 states and the FCT, with 1,141 confirmed cases (24.0 per cent) from 35 states and the FCT with 17 deaths. Males (~70 per cent) are predominantly affected, according to NCDC.
It also noted that the National Mpox multi-sectoral and multi-partner Emergency Operation Centre continues to coordinate the response in the country.
Mpox’s resurgence, and the detection in the Democratic Republic of Congo of a new strain, dubbed Clade 1b, prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare its highest international alert level on August 14.
Mpox is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.
Sometimes deadly, it causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions.
Mpox is now present in 13 African countries, including Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville and the Central African Republic, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
