The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has reported a notable decrease in confirmed Mpox cases for the week of Aug. 12 to Aug. 18, 2024.
According to the NCDC’s latest update on their official website, the number of confirmed cases has dropped compared to the previous week.
Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, has posed an ongoing challenge in Nigeria.
Historically, the country has managed sporadic cases but the current outbreak has intensified the urgency of the situation.
Caused by the monkeypox virus, Mpox is a zoonotic illness, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans and also spread between humans.
Additionally, the Nigerian Public Health Agency said, ’15 new suspected cases had been reported in week 33, an increase from the 12 suspected cases reported the previous week.
‘These cases were distributed across five states and eight local government areas.
‘As of week 33, the cumulative number of confirmed Mpox cases for 2024 stands at 40, with no new deaths reporte
d this week.
‘Since September 2017, there had been 1,125 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 1.5 per cent.
‘The disease has been reported in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 30 local government areas,’ it explained.
According to it, since the start of Mpox surveillance in Nigeria, a total of 4,603 suspected cases have been reported from 36 states and the FCT, with 1,125 confirmed cases.
It said that males represented approximately 70 per cent of the confirmed cases.
The agency said the NCDC’s National Mpox Multi-Sectoral and Multi-Partner Technical Working Group continued to lead the response efforts, focusing on enhancing surveillance and response strategies to control spread of the virus.
It advised Nigerians to avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms, practice good hand hygiene, and use protective gear when dealing with suspected cases.
The NCDC urged healthcare workers to remain vigilant, isolate suspected cases promptly, and notify p
ublic health authorities.
For further information or to report suspected cases, the agency said the public could contact the NCDC through their toll-free number, SMS, or WhatsApp services:
NCDC Toll-Free Number: 6232
SMS: 08099555577
WhatsApp: 07087110839
Website: [www.ncdc.gov.ng](http://www.ncdc.gov.ng).
Source: Voice of Nigeria