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Tag: mpox

  • Lagos activates emergency measures amid rising Mpox concerns

    Lagos activates emergency measures amid rising Mpox concerns

    The Lagos State Government is ramping up its response to the growing threat of the Mpox virus, particularly the newly identified Clade 1B variant, with a series of proactive measures announced by health officials.

     At a briefing in Lagos, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, detailed a multi-faceted strategy to protect the city from the aggressive strain of the virus.

    Despite no active Mpox cases  reported in the state, Abayomi stressed the urgency of the situation due to the rapid spread of the Clade 1B variant across Central Africa.

    “The Clade 1B variant, unlike the Clade 2 variant which has been sporadically detected in West Africa, poses a higher transmission risk, particularly through close and sexual contact,” he explained.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, underscoring the global risk and need for a coordinated response.

    To address this threat, Lagos has implemented three key initiatives. First, a robust stakeholder engagement has been established, bringing together experts from various fields to discuss Mpox management strategies.

    Read Also: Osun confirms two cases of Mpox

    Second, an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated to monitor the outbreak closely, with specific focus on the Clade 1B variant. Third, a comprehensive public health campaign has been launched to educate residents about Mpox symptoms and prevention methods. Prof. Abayomi emphasised that Lagos’s extensive travel connections increase the risk of Mpox entering the state.

    Drawing from past experiences with health crises such as Ebola and COVID-19, the state aims to prevent any potential outbreak of the Clade 1B variant, which could have severe health and economic consequences.

    Mpox, a zoonotic disease similar to smallpox, spreads from animals to humans through rodents and monkeys, and from person to person through close contact.The Clade 1B variant has shown a higher transmission rate, particularly through sexual contact.Therefore, health authorities are keen to prevent its spread by raising public awareness and enhancing diagnostic capabilities.

    Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, highlighted the severity of the Clade 1B symptoms, including more painful and pronounced rashes, especially in the genital area.

    He stressed the importance of early identification and containment of Mpox cases to curb the spread of this virulent strain. The state’s proactive measures, including the EOC activation and public health campaign, are aimed at ensuring the city is well-prepared to handle any potential Mpox cases.

    With the support of global health experts and local research teams, Lagos is setting a strong example in safeguarding public health against emerging global threats.

  • WHO seeks $87.4m to contain Mpox outbreak

    WHO seeks $87.4m to contain Mpox outbreak

    • Nigeria gets 10,000 vaccine doses from U.S

    The World Health Organiwation (WHO) has said it needs $87.4 million to effectively manage the current Mpox outbreak.

    The funding, the global health watchdog said, is required over the next six months for collaboration with countries, partners, and other stakeholders in containing the spread of the disease.

    In a statement yesterday, WHO explained that the funds would be directed towards the implementation of essential activities detailed in the global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), which was unveiled on Tuesday.

    The plan serves as a comprehensive framework for guiding the global response to Mpox with a focus on enhancing surveillance, advancing research, ensuring equitable access to medical interventions, and empowering communities affected by the outbreak.

    Read Also:Mpox: People living with HIV/AIDS at higher risk, NACA cautions

    “Following the declaration of a global emergency on August 14, WHO is seeking $87.4 million for the period from September 2024 to February 2025.

    “This funding will enable collaboration with countries, partners, and stakeholders to halt the current outbreak of Mpox,” the statement said.

    The funds will be allocated across WHO headquarters as well as regional and country offices to support coordination efforts, provide technical assistance, manage operations, and deliver essential medical supplies to affected areas.

    WHO has urged donours to contribute urgently to the full scope of the Mpox response, stressing that swift action is necessary to prevent further spread and to protect the vulnerable populations at risk of contracting the disease.

    Also, Nigeria has received a donation of 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine from the United States Government as part of efforts to combat the Mpox outbreak in the country.

    As of August 23, Nigeria had recorded 40 confirmed cases from 830 suspected cases, though no death has been recorded.

    The Federal Government announced that the vaccines it received would be rationed, prioritising frontline health workers, the most affected regions, and the most vulnerable populations until more doses become available.

    The vaccine, which is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of smallpox and Mpox in adults at risk, was officially handed over to the Nigerian government at a ceremony yesterday in Abuja.

  • Mpox: People living with HIV/AIDS at higher risk, NACA cautions

    Mpox: People living with HIV/AIDS at higher risk, NACA cautions

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has urged people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to be cautious as cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) rages on the continent and in the country, as they are at higher risk of contracting the diseases considering their health status.

    The agency’s Director General (DG), Temitope Ilori said it is very important for PLWHA, and indeed the public, to take preventive measures against the rising threat of Mpox, even as the agency is monitoring the situation and working to make adequate resources and information available.

    Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease, occurring in several African countries, including the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa.

    The exact reservoir of the virus remains unknown, although rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a role in its transmission and it can spread from animal to human and from human to human.

    Read Also: How bandits, terrorists dominate TikTok, flaunt ransom collected from victims

    In a statement yesterday by the Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Toyin Aderibigbe, the DG, emphasised that extra care by PLWHA is vital, saying, “While anyone can contract Mpox, individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those living with HIV, may experience more severe symptoms.

    “It is critical that they take extra precautions to protect themselves”.

    She implored the public to remain vigilant and be informed about the disease while stressing that early detection and treatment  is crucial.

    “If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as a rash or fever, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately. Early intervention is key to managing Mpox effectively.

    “We urge everyone, especially those living with HIV, to stay informed, adhere to preventive measures, and seek medical advice promptly if needed.

    “Together, we can overcome this challenge and continue to make strides in the fight against HIV and other public health threats,” she added.

    Noting that NACA is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with public health authorities to ensure that adequate resources and information are available, the DG said, “Our priority remains the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially those who are most vulnerable.

    “We are committed to providing the necessary support to help people living with HIV navigate this added challenge.”

  • Mpox cases hit 830, 40 confirmed

    Mpox cases hit 830, 40 confirmed

    … as US gifts Nigeria Mpox vaccine

    Nigeria has recorded 40 confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) from 830 suspected cases in the country but no death has been recorded so far, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC has said.

    Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) after a 160% increase in cases this year.

    However, the World Health Organisation Nigeria (WHO) Country Representative, Walter Mulombo has disclosed that Nigeria will be receiving some doses of the Mpox vaccine through a donation from the United States Government while stressing that Nigeria is at moderate risk of the disease outbreak.

    Speaking on Friday in Abuja at a joint WHO National Mpox briefing with stakeholders and partners, the NCDC Director-General (DG), Jide Idris said the use of two laboratories for confirmation of suspected cases has now become inadequate, necessitating the inclusion of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Center for Genomics.

    Read Also; How bandits, terrorists dominate TikTok, flaunt ransom collected from victims

    He said the agency is not relenting on its responsibility to keep a tab on the issue, stressing that an Emergency Operations Centre and an Incident Management System have been established since the Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.

    This is in addition to impressing it on State governments on the urgency of establishing their own emergency preparedness and response teams and capabilities and action plans

    “Right now we have 40 confirmed cases, out of our 830 suspected cases. We still do not have deaths. We have no deaths at all, which is incredible.

    “We’ve met with the state governments and the state Commissioners of Health to let them know that they deserve to establish their emergency preparedness and response teams and capabilities and action plans, which we do with their support, and they are going to do that in conjunction with their various local government areas.”

    On the need to increase laboratory capabilities, especially in the South-South, and the South-East areas, he said, “The other area is surveillance. Looking at the number of cases we have in the country, about 40, quite a number of them are in about 12 or 13 states.

    “A number of them live in the South-South, South-East, some in Lagos, some in Ogun, and up north there.

    “We have to beef up our laboratory services, all the cases we have seen so far were confirmed using genomic sequencing in two labs – the National Research Lab in Abuja and Lagos.

    “But because of the spread, we need to increase the number of laboratories we’re going to use to test. So we are including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Center for Genomics.”

    The NCDC DG stated that there is a need to increase laboratory capabilities, especially in the South-South, and the South-East areas.

    “We also know that in our network, quite a number of laboratories have the capacity to do PCR, but they may not be able to test for Mpox.

    “So we need to beef up those capabilities, either by training or by supplying them with necessary reagents and consumables. We’ve identified a number of laboratories who are looking into that”, he said.

     Speaking on the issue, WHO’s Mulombo noted that the country must not relax its vigilance against the disease even as the country is at a moderate risk of the outbreak.

    “Of course, Nigeria is not at high risk, it’s a moderate risk, but we need to continue to remain vigilant because we’ve seen cases reported as far as Europe or Asia, and Nigeria is not safe until this overall event is safe.

    “So, we’ll continue to work with the government to strengthen public health measures that are needed to control the outbreak.”

    Nonetheless, he assured that Nigeria would benefit from a United States donation of the vaccination despite the global short supply of it.

  • Mpox: NCDC confirms 40 cases as US donates vaccine to Nigeria

    Mpox: NCDC confirms 40 cases as US donates vaccine to Nigeria

    Nigeria has recorded 40 confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) from 830 suspected cases in the country, saying that no death has been recorded so far, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said.

    Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) after a 160% increase in cases this year.

    However, the World Health Organisation Nigeria (WHO) Country Representative, Walter Mulombo has disclosed that Nigeria will be receiving some doses of the Mpox vaccine through a donation from the United States Government while stressing that Nigeria is at moderate risk of the disease outbreak.

    Speaking on Friday in Abuja at a joint WHO National Mpox briefing with stakeholders and partners, the NCDC Director-General (DG), Jide Idris said the use of two laboratories for confirmation of suspected cases has now become inadequate, necessitating the inclusion of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Center for Genomics.

    He said the agency is not relenting on its responsibility to keep a tab on the issue, stressing that an Emergency Operations Centre and an Incident Management System have been established since the Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.

    This is in addition to impressing State governments on the urgency of establishing their own emergency preparedness and response team’s capabilities and action plans

    “Right now we have 40 confirmed cases, out of our 830 suspected cases. We still do not have deaths. We have no deaths at all, which is incredible.

    “We’ve met with the state governments and the state Commissioners of Health to let them know that they deserve to establish their emergency preparedness and response teams and capabilities and action plans, which we do with their support, and they are going to do that in conjunction with their various local government areas.

    Read Also: Rivers confirms two cases of Mpox

    On the need to increase laboratory capabilities, especially in the South-South, and the South-East areas, he said, “The other area is surveillance. Looking at the number of cases we have in the country, about 40, quite a number of them are in about 12 or 13 states.

    A number of them live in the South-South, South-East, some in Lagos, some in Ogun, and up north there.

    “We have to beef up our laboratory services, all the cases we have seen so far were confirmed using genomic sequencing in two labs – the National Research Lab in Abuja and Lagos.

    “But because of the spread, we need to increase the number of laboratories we’re going to use to test. So we are including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Center for Genomics.”

    The NCDC DG stated that there is a need to increase laboratory capabilities, especially in the South-South, and the South-East areas.

    “We also know that in our network, quite a number of laboratories have the capacity to do PCR, but they may not be able to test for Mpox.

    “So we need to beef up those capabilities, either by training or by supplying them with necessary reagents and consumables. We’ve identified a number of laboratories who are looking into that”, he said.

     Speaking on the issue, WHO’s Mulombo noted that the country must not relax its vigilance against the disease even as the country is at a moderate risk of the outbreak.

    “Of course, Nigeria is not at high risk, it’s a moderate risk, but we need to continue to remain vigilant because we’ve seen cases reported as far as Europe or Asia, and Nigeria is not safe until this overall event is safe.

    “So, we’ll continue to work with the government to strengthen public health measures that are needed to control the outbreak.

    Nonetheless, he assured that Nigeria would benefit from a United States donation of the vaccination despite the global short supply of it.

    “Well, you’ve heard that Nigeria will be receiving a number of doses of vaccine through donation from the U.S. government. The needs globally are huge.

    “The vaccine is in short supply, and the capacity of the current manufacturer cannot meet the global demand unless some kind of intervention is there.

    “I’m sure the U.S. government will be able to inform on the date of arrival. We’ve heard from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency representative, the vaccination strategy, which is in line with the recommendation of WHO to target the people at highest risk and those who have the disease and their contacts as well as their workers”.

    In a similar development, the Africa CDC has reinforced its declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) after a 160% increase in cases this year.

    In a letter dated August 23, 2024, and addressed to all Ministers of Health African Union (AU) member States, Jean Kaseya, the DG of the Africa CDC said from January to August 2024, 17,541 cases and 517 deaths were reported across 16 African Union member States, with a concerning case fatality rate above 3.9%.

    As a result, he noted that the Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group, composed of senior scientific experts, recommended the declaration due to the rapid spread of the disease, limited surveillance, and inadequate vaccine access.

    The declaration, he added, marks a critical step in controlling the Mpox outbreak, with Africa CDC mobilizing resources and reinforcing laboratory capabilities across the continent.

    He however assured that the agency is working closely with WHO, member States, and international partners to enhance preparedness, coordinate response efforts, and secure vaccine supplies.

    The agency also called for increased domestic funding HBO and collaboration among African leaders to ensure effective disease management and prevent further spread beyond Africa.

  • What you need to know about Mpox

    What you need to know about Mpox

    Mpox, also known as Monkeypox virus, is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals. Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The illness is usually mild, and most of infected individuals recover within a few weeks without treatment. 

     The time from exposure to the onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days, and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks. However, cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women, or people with suppressed immune systems.

    This alarming increase is linked to a new strain of the Mpox virus which emerged in eastern Congo and has since been detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. In Nigeria, a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 19 States + FCT from the beginning of the year 2024.

     When the first cases of human Monkeypox were identified in DRC , Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1970 , there were no detected cases in Nigeria, and surveillance of several non-human primates in Nigeria did not identify any Monkeypox Virus. Two cases of Mpox we’re first identified in Nigeria in 1971. The first case was a four year old female, whose rash began on 9th April.

    The disease is caused by Orthopoxvirus monkeypox, formerly “monkeypox virus”, a zoonotic virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus. The variola virus, which causes smallpox, is also in this genus. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infected skin or body fluids, including sexual contact.People remain infectious from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and healed. The virus may spread from infected animals through handling infected meat or via bites or scratches. Diagnosis can be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing a lesion for the virus’s DNA.

    Read Also: Rivers confirms two cases of Mpox

    Vaccination is recommended for those at high risk of infection. No vaccine has been developed specifically against mpox, but smallpox vaccines have been found to be effective.

    There is no specific treatment for the disease, so the aim of treatment is to manage the symptoms and prevent complications. Antiviral drugs such as tecovirimat can be used to treat mpox, although their effectiveness has not been proven.

    Mpox is endemic in Central and Western Africa, where several species of mammals are suspected to act as a natural reservoir of the virus. The first human cases were diagnosed in 1970 in Basankusu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, the frequency and severity of outbreaks have significantly increased, possibly as a result of waning immunity since the cessation of routine smallpox vaccination. A global outbreak of clade II in 2022–2023 marked the first incidence of widespread community transmission outside of Africa. In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The WHO reverted this status in May 2023 as the outbreak came under control, citing a combination of vaccination and public health information as successful control measures.

      An outbreak of new variant of clade I mpox (known as clade Ib) was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during 2023. As of August 2024, it has spread to several African countries, raising concerns that it may have adapted to more sustained human transmission. On 14 August 2024, the WHO declared this outbreak a PHEIC.

    The global outbreak of Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022. WHO published a strategic preparedness and response plan for mpox and a suite of technical guidance documents.  Surveillance, diagnostics, risk communication and community engagement remain central to stopping the outbreak and eliminating human-to-human transmission of mpox in all contexts.

  • Rivers confirms two cases of Mpox

    Rivers confirms two cases of Mpox

    The Rivers State Government on Tuesday confirmed discovery of two cases of Mpox infections.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, who spoke in Port Harcourt, however, assured that the Ministry of Health has put in place machineries to combat Mpox.

    She said that the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was on high alert to respond to any emergency.

    Read Also; Five Nigerians celebrities who are twins

    She said: “Mpox a viral disease the infected patient can present various symptoms like fever, general weakness and back pain. For some people, who may contract it, their body immune system may clear it.

    “But there are some other people who may end up with severe symptoms, especially those people who are immune compromised.”

    Medical teams have been deployed to respond to all emergencies at the healthcare level, General hospitals and the Specialist hospital. We now have an incident plan for Mpox.

    “We are galvanizing resources to find all the incident Mpox. We have Ad-hoc staff who have been engaged and trained to combat this infection. And they have the capacity to respond to this infection at all levels of our healthcare pillars.”

  • Doctors heighten vigilance against Mpox

    Doctors heighten vigilance against Mpox

    The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) says it has heightened vigilance for prompt detection of mpox disease in private health facilities across the country.

    ANPMP is the umbrella organisation for all medical and dental doctors in private practice either as owners or employees.

    The National President of the association, Dr Kayode Adesola, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Adesola noted that responding to mpox health crises required the private sector’s workforce, expertise and resource capacities to mitigate the transmission of the disease.

    He said the presence of private medical practitioners were visible in all local government areas, and were the first port of call for many people seeking healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

    Adesola recalled that the index case of Ebola virus disease in 2014 presented in a private hospital in Lagos, noting that proactive measures, strong coordinating and collaborative effort assisted to mitigate the case.

    According to him, Mpox has an incubation period of three to 17 days, stressing the need for medical practitioners to be cautious and vigilant for prompt detection and diagnosis upon case presentation at health facilities.

    He noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to enhance preparedness, surveillance and implement response activities aimed at preventing the transmission of the disease.

    “This includes the development and dissemination of guidelines on infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to both public and private health facilities.

    “In view of the critical role ANPMP plays in healthcare delivery in Nigeria, we are actively involved in the strategic alliance to strengthen response activities and resilience to mpox and other infectious diseases,” he said.

    Adesola stressed that addressing the myriad of health challenges would require multi-sectoral collaboration and partnership between the public and private sector to build a resilient healthcare system in Nigeria.

    He commended the Federal Government’s enhanced surveillance for mpox clade I detection at all ports of entry to the country, while calling for improved sensitisation of the public on prevention measures.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mpox formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.

    Two different mpox clades exist: clade I and clade II. Clade I causes more severe illness and deaths. Some outbreaks have killed up to 10 per cent of the people who get sick. It is endemic to Central Africa.

    Infections from clade II mpox are less severe, with more than 99.9 per cent of people survive. Clade II is endemic to West Africa.

    Mpox causes rashes, flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. The disease can be fatal, especially for children, pregnant women and those with suppressed immune systems.

    It is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

    Animal to human transmission of mpox occurs from infected animals to humans from bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses, or eating animals.

    Data from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (AfricaCDC) show that 3,101 confirmed and 15,636 suspected mpox cases have been reported from 12 African countries, resulting in 541 deaths.

    According to NCDC, 39 confirmed mpox cases and zero deaths were recorded in 19 states and the FCT from the beginning of 2024.

    Read Also: Mpox not yet public health emergency in Nigeria – NCDC source

    Data shows that mpox cases in Nigeria are clade II, with concerted efforts ongoing to prevent transmission of mpox clade I to the country.

    Mpox has been causing widespread devastation in several regions of Africa, prompting WHO to declare it a Global Health Emergency on Aug. 16, saying it requires urgent and coordinated international action to contain its spread and mitigate its impact.

    Apart from the African countries, there has been instance of the novel strain of mpox identified in Sweden and Pakistan.

    NAN reports that the virus spread to more than 100 countries in 2022, largely through sexual contact, prompting WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert.

    WHO ended the emergency 10 months later, saying the health crisis had come under control.

    (NAN)

  • Mpox not yet public health emergency in Nigeria – NCDC source

    Mpox not yet public health emergency in Nigeria – NCDC source

    The 39 confirmed cases  of  Monkey Pox (Mpox) in parts of the country are not sufficient yet to declare the outbreak   a Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern (PHEIC/PHECC),The Nation  gathered yesterday.

    Bayelsa  and Cross River states have five of the confirmed cases each followed by Ogun and Lagos with four each and Ebonyi three.

    The  World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had raised the red flag  about the outbreak in the wake of the confirmation  of about 2,863 cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries this year alone.

    A new strain of the Mpox virus is said to have  emerged in Eastern Congo and has since been detected in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

    A Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) source said yesterday that Nigeria has not yet hit the threshold of emergency status.

    “It is instructive to note that Mpox is endemic in Nigeria which means that annually, Mpox cases are recorded all year round,” the source said.

    Continuing, he said:”What we are doing right now is  to ramp up preparedness efforts to ensure we don’t have any case of the new variant in the country.

    “As we continue to follow the trends in the disease epidemiology, it is the trend that will then inform the  next steps on what we do to ensure we protect the health of the population.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, said in a statement on Thursday, through  his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, that NCDC and the Nigeria Ports Health Services, under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had been taking steps to fortify Nigeria’s defences even before the declaration of the disease a public health emergency by Africa CDC.

    He said the move was also triggered as the Mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10% of individuals who have fallen ill in previous outbreaks.

    According to him, the aim is to tackle and mitigate its impact by deploying measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Government,he said, had implemented a new mandate requiring all travellers to complete an online health declaration form before departing for the country, in addition to the measure being introduced alongside the activation of infectious disease centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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    To strengthen the surveillance architecture, NCDC Director General (DG), Jide Idris disclosed at a media engagement in Abuja that the National Mpox Technical Working Group (TWG), a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC has been activated to continue to coordinate Mpox response activities.

    According to him, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts, the agency has intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases.

    He also confirmed that the agency has put all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert.

    Diagnostic protocols according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) are now distributed to those locations while Port Health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases, he added.

    “Some States have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba.

    ‘We are also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread.

    “This will now also include a declaration by travellers who have been to any of the countries where there is an ongoing outbreak of MPX in the last 90 days.

    “Additionally, we continue to provide healthcare workers and the public with updated guidance on infection prevention and control measures and train Surge staff as part of our preparedness and readiness for an MPX public health event.

  • House seeks collaborative efforts to end Mpox epidemic

    House seeks collaborative efforts to end Mpox epidemic

    The House of Representatives has expressed concern about the rising cases of mpox epidemic in the country, stressing the need for collaborative efforts at addressing the ailment.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Health Care Services, Hon. Denis Idahosa, who expressed the concern of the House said given the gravity of the situation, the Committee, working in concert with all health-related Committees in the House will intensify oversight activities in the sector.

    He said the House also working in close collaboration with relevant health agencies and international partners to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the outbreak.

    Idahosa said: “The rising cases of Mpox in our country are a serious threat to public health. We are fully committed to working with the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and international partners to ensure that we take all necessary actions to curb this epidemic.

    “The safety and well-being of Nigerians is our top priority, and we urge everyone to adhere to the health guidelines provided.

    “In alignment with our Legislative Agenda on Social Sector Reform and Development (Agenda 5), the House of Representatives, through its relevant Committees on Health, will continue to monitor the situation and collaborate with all relevant authorities to ensure effective management of the outbreak.

    “We urge all Nigerians to stay vigilant, follow health advisories, and cooperate with public health officials during this critical time.”

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently reported a sharp increase in Mpox cases across multiple states, while stressing the importance of enhanced surveillance, rapid case detection, and immediate isolation of affected individuals.

    Read Also: WHO declares mpox a global public health emergency for second time in two years

    The centre emphasised the need for the public to adhere to preventive measures, including frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with infected persons, and promptly seeking medical attention for any suspicious symptoms.

    In line with the NCDC’s warnings, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted the situation in Nigeria as a potential public health emergency of international concern. The WHO has also called for increased global support to strengthen Nigeria’s response to the epidemic, focusing on vaccine distribution, public health education, and international cooperation.

    NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that the Centre is conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread.

    “As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we have intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases. This includes putting all port health services across all 5 international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert,” Dr. Idris said.

    Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, has also assured the public that the government has implemented a new mandate requiring all travellers to complete an online health declaration form before departing for the country.

    “This Mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10 percent of individuals who have fallen ill in previous outbreaks. The aim is to tackle and mitigate its impact by deploying measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Prof. Pate stated.