The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 40 confirmed cases were recorded out of the 830 suspected cases nationwide on Friday. The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, revealed this during the Joint NCDC/World Health Organisation National Mpox briefing with stakeholders and partners in Abuja.
Jide emphasized the importance of ensuring that the mpox outbreak does not divert attention from other health issues being monitored, such as cholera and Lassa fever, particularly because more cases and deaths are recorded from these conditions.
In his words, " “In light of the higher number of cholera and Lassa fever cases compared to mpox, the messaging should emphasize a data-driven, integrated approach to public health, ensuring that resources are allocated proportionately to address the most severe and prevalent diseases. While mpox is acknowledged as a concern, the focus remains on managing all health threats simultaneously, without neglecting any, to maintain comprehensive health security. An integrated approach in disease management is key.”
The WHO Nigeria office assured Nigeria would receive doses of the mpox vaccine through a donation from the United States Government.
“Currently, we have 40 confirmed cases out of 830 suspected cases. We have not recorded any deaths, which is remarkable. We have developed an incident action plan to address each area using various pillars."
“We have met with state governments and state Commissioners of Health to advise them on establishing their emergency preparedness and response teams, capabilities, and action plans," Jide concluded.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant and monitoring microbes in nature that may cause the disease.
