The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has officially confirmed a total of 39 cases of monkeypox in Nigeria since the beginning of 2024. This announcement reflects ongoing monitoring and surveillance efforts aimed at tracking the spread of the virus within the country.
The cases are distributed across several states, with Bayelsa leading the count with 16 cases. Following Bayelsa, Cross River has reported 5 cases, Ogun and Lagos both have 4 cases each, while Ondo and Ebonyi have each recorded 3 cases. This distribution highlights the varying impact of the virus across different regions in Nigeria.
Dr. Jide Idris, who serves as the Director General of NCDC, addressed the situation at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday. During this briefing, he assured the public that, to date, there have been no reported deaths attributed to monkeypox within the country. This is a notable point of relief amid the rising number of cases.
Dr. Idris emphasized that the NCDC has significantly increased its efforts in coordinating and communicating with various stakeholders to effectively manage the spread of the virus. This includes strengthening preventive measures and ensuring that all possible steps are taken to contain the outbreak and prevent the disease from spreading further or being imported into new areas.
The situation is part of a larger trend observed across the continent, as the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) declared monkeypox a health emergency just the day before, on Wednesday. This declaration comes in response to a notable rise in confirmed cases across Africa, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced public health measures and international collaboration to combat the spread of the virus.
