The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 67 Mpox cases in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed this on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at a press briefing on Mpox, Cholera and other diseases of public health importance in the country held in Abuja.
Dr. Idris informed that there were 1031 suspected cases of MPox from 35 states and the FCT of which, 67 cases were confirmed to have the disease in 23 states of the federation, however, no death had been recorded since the outbreak.
According to the DG, part of ongoing effort to curtail the spread of the disease include, “expansion of Molecular laboratories in the NCDC network of laboratories: At least 2 labs to be optimized in each geopolitical zone.
“Sustain airing of jingles and production and dissemination of SBC
materials in local languages”.
Other efforts include, enhancing cross boarder surveillance and intensifying surveillance among special groups, sustaining the provision of Medical Counter Measures for response, build capacity across all response capabilities.
Speaking about cholera situation in the country, Dr. Idris noted that there was a 55% reduction in number of cases compared to the previous week. He further informed that there were 7663 suspected cases and 216 deaths attributed to the disease in 2024.
“In week 36, there were one hundred and forty-one (141) suspected cases and 1 death with a case fatality rate of
0.7%. These were reported in Katsina, Lagos, Kano, Jigawa and Adamawa states. Across 19 LGAs.
“There was a 55% reduction in number of cases compared to week 35. Cumulatively from week 1 to 36, 2024, 216 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.8% from
7,663 suspected cases.
“Total Samples collected and tested for RTD and Culture was 1202. RTD positive 344 and Culture positive 133, cumulative positive 477 and TPR 40%”, he said.
The DG also disclosed that, “in total for 2024, 35 States and the FCT have recorded at least one Suspected case across 280 Local Government
Areas.
“Eighty-nine percent (89%) of all suspected cases were reported from these ten states (Lagos 58%; Bayelsa 7%;
Katsina 6%; Jigawa 5%; Zamfara 3%; Ebonyi 3%; Rivers 2%; Abia 2%; Ogun 2% and Imo 1%)”.
He said Fifteen (15) Local Government Areas account for 57% of all cholera cases in the country with Lagos Island LGA contributing the highest, 8%.
He also disclosed that the predominant age affected was 2 – 14 years. Adding that Males account for 52% of cases while females 48%.
To curtail the spread, Dr. Idris stated that the NCDC conducted cholera risk assessment for early warning signals across states, deployed National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) to Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Abia, Katsina and Zamfara states and distributed cholera response commodities to all states and the FCT.
He hinted that going forward, the Agency would follow up with non-reporting states, continue to collaborate with all partners in surveillance to support active case search, notification, and capacity building.
He further said the NCDC would bolster up data officers to harmonize data where discrepancies exist and also continue to monitor the trend of cholera reporting across flooded states.
