The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed some states including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa and Taraba on red alert, as Nigeria records 39 confirmed cases of Mpox disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) recently declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International / Continental Concern (PHEIC / PHECC).
Updating newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on status of Mpox and other infectious disease, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that this far, about 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries in 2024 alone.
Idris who noted that no life has been lost in Nigeria from Mpox, explained that the alarming increase in cases as being witnessed, was inked to a new strain of the Mpox virus which emerged in eastern Congo and has since been detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
According to him, all port health services across all 5 international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders have been placed on high alert, as the agency has begun contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
Dr. Idris listed symptoms of Mpox to include fever, headache, body aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes (glands) and a rash. After about 1 to 3 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 said: “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 (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3) leading the pack.
“Mpox is 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.
The NCDC boss appealed to Nigerians to keep safe and help prevent the spread of Mpox by avoiding 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 hand washing with soap and water especially after caring for or visiting sick people
“Ensuring all animal food products are properly cooked before eating Use of appropriate protective clothing and gloves while handling sick animals or their infected tissues and during slaughtering procedures
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.
While disclosing that Nigeria was expecting to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, the NCDC boss said government was making effort to make vaccine available to the public especially the hotspot areas.
On Cholera, Dr. Idris disclosed a.continued increase in the number of cases being recorded across the country, affecting under 5 children the most, even as he expressed concerns the figures may increase following rainfall forecasts and the high rate of open defecation in the country.
“Cumulatively, as of 11th August 2024, a total of 5951 suspected cases and 176 deaths have been recorded across 36 States + FCT and 152 LGAs with a case fatality rate of 3.0%.
“The trend of suspected cholera cases is anticipated to exhibit fluctuations and may persist until Epidemic Week 37. This projection is consistent with the patterns observed in cholera outbreaks in Nigeria from 2020 to 2024.
“The current rainfall forecasts suggest that there may be an increase in the number of cases. Contributing factors to the outbreak include high rates of open defecation, which lead to contamination of water sources through the runoff of fecal matter.
“In response, we will enhance both prevention strategies and case management measures to effectively address and mitigate the outbreak.”