ALARMING SPREAD: NCDC confirms 48 cases of mpox cases in 19 states
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 48 cases of Mpox across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marking a concerning development in the ongoing outbreak. According to the Mpox situation report for week 34, released on Friday, the cases are among 868 suspected infections reported in 35 local government areas.
The report highlights a troubling increase in reported cases. In the past week alone, 57 new suspected cases emerged, a significant rise from the 25 cases documented the previous week. Furthermore, eight confirmed cases were identified in week 34, compared to just one case in week 33.
Despite the uptick in cases, there have been no reported deaths linked to Mpox this year. The NCDC’s report details the geographical spread of the virus, with confirmed cases found in a range of states including Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Delta, Imo, Edo, FCT, Anambra, and Cross River, among others. Notable cases include Lagos (one), Rivers (two), Bayelsa (six), and Enugu (eight), with cases also reported in Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Oyo, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Benue, Osun, Kebbi, and Zamfara.
The report also provides insight into the age distribution of the confirmed cases. The breakdown shows that 17 cases were among children aged 0-10, seven cases in the 11-20 age group, nine cases in those aged 21-30, eight cases for ages 31-40, and seven cases among individuals aged 41-50.
Mpox, a rare viral zoonotic disease, is typically found in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is caused by the Mpox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus which includes other significant viruses such as variola (smallpox), vaccinia (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox (also used in smallpox vaccines). Since the eradication of smallpox, Mpox has become the most prominent virus in the Orthopoxvirus genus.
On August 13, 2024, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared Mpox a public health emergency of continental concern. This decision underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for coordinated responses to manage the outbreak.
The NCDC continues to lead the national response through the Mpox multi-sectoral and multi-partner Emergency Operation Centre, working to control and mitigate the impact of this outbreak across affected regions.
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