The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 67 cases of Mpox from 1,031 suspected cases in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The affected states and their respective number of confirmed cases are:
- Akwa-Ibom (8)
- Enugu (8)
- Bayelsa (6)
- Cross River (5)
- Benue (4)
- Plateau (4)
- Delta (4)
- FCT (3)
- Imo (3)
- Lagos (3)
- Rivers (2)
- Abia (2)
- Osun (2)
- Anambra (2)
- Ogun (2)
- Kaduna (1)
- Gombe (1)
- Edo (1)
- Niger (1)
- Ebonyi (1)
- Nasarawa (1)
- Kebbi (1)
- Oyo (1)
Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, stated that the agency is enhancing surveillance to ensure accurate detection. “We are working with the port health authority to prevent the importation of Clade I of Mpox into the country,” he said.
“The port health authority is also working with border states to ensure prevention of the clade into the country. We are optimising surveillance in states to ensure accurate detection.”
Idris further explained that the NCDC is optimizing its laboratories to detect Mpox, saying, “We have laboratories across the country, but not all of them have the same capabilities to test Mpox.
So, we are optimising our laboratories to detect so that we don’t have to carry samples across states.” He also emphasized the importance of awareness creation, saying, “We are also involved in awareness creation.”