Nigeria is on high alert after new mpox cases were reported just 48 hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a global health emergency on August 15. 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 39 cases of mpox, as infections continue to rise across Africa. Although no deaths have been recorded in Nigeria, the outbreak has spread to Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, heightening concerns about the country’s preparedness to manage the situation effectively.

Mpox, a rare zoonotic disease, is prevalent in several African nations, although the vast majority of cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This year alone, more than 2,800 cases have been reported across 13 countries, resulting in over 500 deaths. Symptoms of the disease include fever, body aches, weakness, headaches, and a distinctive rash.

In a press briefing, Dr. Olajide Idris, the head of the NCDC, highlighted that Nigeria is ramping up efforts to contain the virus and prevent the entry of new cases into the country. In response to the emergence of a more lethal strain, Nigerian health officials are exploring vaccination strategies targeted at high-risk populations. Nigeria is also set to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.

"The Nigerian government is making effort to make vaccines available to the public, especially for the hotspot areas,” he said. “These vaccines have been shown to have a favourable safety profile. They are not yet in the country, but they are on their way."

The NCDC is also stepping up its efforts to control the mpox outbreak by enhancing surveillance and monitoring, including tracking travellers from affected countries, and providing diagnostic guidelines to the health service, Idris explained. He also urged the public to follow safety measures, like avoiding contact with animals that may carry the virus, washing hands frequently, and properly cooking animal products.