The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,
NCDC, has confirmed 39 cases of Mpox in the country.
The agency however said that so far, no death has been
recorded from the disease which it disclosed, were confirmed in 33 states and
the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed these
at a press conference, he held Thursday evening, in Abuja,to provide updates on
the ongoing outbreaks of cholera, mPox, and other events of public health
importance.
The development came following the declaration of Mpox as a
Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern, PHEIC, by
both the World Health Organisation, WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention ,ACDC.
Idris named Bayelsa as leading the 33 states with five
confirmed cases while Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, all trailed behind
with four confirmed cases.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has
been closely monitoring several endemic diseases including mPox which has been
declared a Public Health Emergency of International / Continental Concern
(PHEIC / PHECC) by both the WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (ACDC).
“In Nigeria, cumulatively, a total of 39 confirmed cases and
zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States + FCT, from the beginning of
the year 2024. Bayelsa (5),Cross River (4), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and
Ebonyi (3) leading the pack. Noting the significant concern of the ease of
cross-border transmission, this press conference is part of the effort to
intensify our coordination and communication with stakeholders to manage the
spread of the virus and prevent disease importation,”he said.
Idris also said so far, about 2,863 confirmed cases and 517
deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.
According to him, “This alarming increase is linked to a new
strain of the Mpox virus which emerged in eastern Congo and has since been
detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.”
He said the National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), a
multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, would continue to coordinate Mpox
response activities.
He spoke further:” As part of the government’s ongoing
efforts, we are intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and
respond to any new cases.
“This putting all
port health services across all five international airports, ten seaports, and
51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert.
” Diagnostic protocols according to the Integrated Disease
Surveillance and Control,
IDSR are now distributed to these locations and port health
officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.
“Some states have also been put on high alert including
Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba.
We are also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to
prevent further spread.
“This will now also include declaration by travellers who
have been to any of the countries where there is an ongoing outbreak of MPX in
the last 90 days. Additionally, we continue to provide healthcare workers and
the public with updated guidance on infection prevention and control measures
and train SURGE staff as part of our preparedness and readiness for an MPX
public health event.
” The NCDC is also notifying public and private hospitals
about the MPX alert and sending a list of referral isolation/treatment centers
across the 6 geopolitical zones and reference laboratory networks which
includes NRL, CPHL, NIMR, LUTH, ACEGID, UNTH, UPTH.
“We are also considering vaccination efforts for high-risk
groups, as Nigeria expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
“The Technical Working Group ,TWG remains committed to
providing evidence-based guidance to inform the country’s next steps in
safeguarding the health of Nigerians at national, state, and local government
levels.”
He described Mpox as a “rare viral zoonotic infectious
disease (i.e., disease of animals transmitted from animals to humans) that is
endemic in several African countries including the tropical rainforests of
Central and West Africa. “
“The exact reservoir of the virus is still unknown although rodents,
squirrels and monkeys are suspected to play a part in transmission.
“The Mpox virus can spread both from animal to human and
from human to human. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by direct contact
with the blood, body fluids, skin or mucosal lesions of infected animals (e.g.,
monkeys, squirrels, and rodents).
“This can happen through a bite, scratch, handling of, or
eating inadequately cooked or other products of infected bushmeat.
Human-to-human (person-to-person) transmission occurs when a person comes into
contact with the virus from an infected human, or materials contaminated with
the virus such as clothing, beddings,”he informed.
Speaking on the sign and symptoms of Mpox,he said the
“symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, body aches, weakness, swollen
lymph nodes (glands) and a rash.”
“After about one to three days of fever, the rash erupts,
beginning on the face and then spreading to the body with the face and
palms/soles being mostly affected. They can also occur in and around the
genitals which is why contact during sex is another mode of transmission,”he
added.
Speaking on public advisory,the NCDC boss said,”To prevent
the spread of Mpox, we strongly urge members of the public to adhere to proven
infection prevention and control measures. These practices are essential in
limiting the transmission of the Mpox virus.”
He advised the public to take the following steps to prevent
themselves from the dreaded disease:Avoid contact with animals that could
harbour the virus including sick or dead animals in areas where MPX has been
confirmed;Avoid contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick
animal;Avoid unnecessary physical contact with persons infected with
MPX;Isolate potentially infected animals from other animals;Practice frequent
handwashing with soap and water especially after caring for or visiting sick
people:Ensuring all animal food products are properly cooked before eating and
adopt use of appropriate protective clothing and gloves while handling sick
animals or their infected tissues and during slaughtering procedures.
While advising the public to report all cases with the
associated symptoms mentioned above to the nearest health facility for care,
and/or call the NCDC toll-free line on 6232,he said “Nigeria Government is making effort to make
vaccine available to the public especially the hotspot area. The vaccine has
been shown to have a favorable safety profile.”
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