JUST IN: Nigeria Records 39 Mpox, 5,951 Cholera Cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced on Thursday that Nigeria has confirmed 39 cases of mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the start of 2024, with no reported deaths.
NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, also disclosed that the country has recorded 5,951 suspected cholera cases and 176 deaths across all 36 states and the FCT as of August 11, 2024.
The announcement comes amid a growing mpox outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a new viral strain has emerged and spread to other countries. Across 13 African countries, there have been 2,863 confirmed mpox cases and 517 deaths this year.
In Nigeria, states like Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi have reported the highest numbers of mpox cases.
Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of cross-border coordination to manage the spread of the virus and highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance surveillance and response measures at ports and borders.
On cholera, Dr. Idris pointed to open defecation as a key factor in the outbreak and outlined plans to strengthen prevention and case management strategies as the country braces for further cases due to rainfall.
