The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 39 confirmed cases of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) in the country this year.

On Wednesday, August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Mpox as a “public health emergency of international concern” following a significant rise in cases across Africa.

In a press briefing on Thursday, August 15, Jide Idris, the NCDC Director-General, revealed that the cases have been reported across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The states with the highest number of cases are Bayelsa (5), Cross River (5), Ogun (4), Lagos (4), Ondo (3), and Ebonyi (3).

“The national Mpox technical working group (TWG), a multi-sectoral team within the NCDC, continues to lead the response efforts,” Idris stated.

He emphasized that the government is ramping up surveillance nationwide to promptly identify and address new cases. This includes heightened vigilance at all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders.

“Diagnostic protocols have been distributed to these locations, and port health officers are actively screening for suspected cases,” he added.

Idris also mentioned that the NCDC is evaluating vaccination options for high-risk groups and expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.

States including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the FCT are on high alert.

“We are also implementing contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to curb further spread,” the NCDC DG noted.

Additionally, declarations will be required from travelers who have visited countries with ongoing Mpox outbreaks in the past 90 days.

The NCDC is informing both public and private hospitals about the Mpox situation and providing a list of referral isolation and treatment centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

In the same briefing, Idris updated on the cholera outbreak, reporting 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths across 36 states and the FCT, with a case fatality rate of 3 percent as of August 11. He noted that children under five are the most affected group.