Ogasabi on 9am news reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with no reported fatalities. This information was revealed by Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, during a press conference on Thursday, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of global significance.
According to Idris, the NCDC is intensifying surveillance efforts across Nigeria to swiftly identify and respond to any new cases. All port health services at the nation’s five international airports, ten seaports, and fifty-one land and foot crossing borders have been placed on high alert. States such as Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the FCT, Abuja, have also been heightened for immediate response.
The Breaking news on 9am news Nigeria further highlights that the NCDC, in collaboration with Nigeria Ports Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has been proactive in fortifying the nation’s defenses against mpox, even before the WHO’s declaration. The NCDC has now implemented a new requirement for all travelers to complete an online health declaration form before entering the country, as part of measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Mpox, caused by the Clade 1 strain, has historically resulted in fatalities in up to 10% of cases during previous outbreaks. The NCDC is deploying strategies similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the impact of this outbreak, according to Idris.
WHO raisies Concerns On DRC
The WHO declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, raising concerns over the increase in cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and its spread to neighboring countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “This is something that should concern us all. WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.”
9am news Nigeria also reports that this decision follows the African Union’s health watchdog’s declaration of a public health emergency due to the growing mpox outbreak. The disease has swept through the DRC, where it was first identified in humans in 1970, with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported this year, already surpassing the total figures from last year.
Ogasabi emphasizes that this heightened vigilance and international cooperation are critical in preventing the further spread of mpox and safeguarding public health in Nigeria and beyond.
