Mpox Spreads Across 63 LGAs In Nigeria, With Cross River, Lagos Leading In Cases

Mpox has spread extensively across Nigeria, impacting 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 63 local government areas, according to a recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The report revealed that as of October 6, 2024, there have been 1,297 suspected cases of mpox since January 1, with 94 cases confirmed.

During Epidemiology Week 40, 2024, 47 new suspected cases were identified, a slight decrease from the 67 reported in Week 39. Confirmed cases also dropped from 10 in Week 39 to six in Week 40.

“Twenty-five states and the FCT have recorded at least one confirmed case across 63 LGAs in 2024.

“Since September 2017, 5,114 suspected cases have been reported from 36 states and FCT, with 1,180 confirmed cases (23.1 per cent) from 35 states and the FCT with 17 deaths. Males (~70 per cent) are predominantly affected.

“The National Mpox multi-sectoral & multi-partner Emergency Operation Centre continues to coordinate the response,” the report detailed.

The NCDC also noted that the National Mpox Emergency Operation Centre, comprising multiple sectors and partners, is actively managing the ongoing response.

Current Confirmed Cases by State

A backlog of 13 cases, including four confirmed cases, was reported for Week 39, 2024. Confirmed cases for the year are highest in Cross River (11), followed by Lagos (10), Plateau (8), Enugu (8), and Akwa Ibom (8).

Other states with confirmed cases include Delta (6), Bayelsa (6), FCT (5), Imo (4), Benue (4), Rivers (3), Abia (3), Osun (2), Ogun (2), Edo (2), Anambra (2), Zamfara (1), Oyo (1), Niger (1), Nasarawa (1), Kebbi (1), Katsina (1), Kaduna (1), Gombe (1), Ebonyi (1), and Adamawa (1).

Suspected Cases Across States

Ogun currently leads in suspected cases with 222, followed by Lagos (153), Bayelsa (125), Cross River (84), and Akwa Ibom (65).

Additional states with suspected cases include Ekiti (63), Enugu (59), Osun (56), Ondo (41), Delta (38), Imo (36), Abia (34), Plateau (34), FCT (28), Rivers (27), Anambra (24), and Adamawa (22).

Others with fewer suspected cases include Kebbi (19), Edo (17), Oyo (16), Gombe (16), Nasarawa (14), Ebonyi (11), Kaduna (10), Kogi (9), Zamfara (9), Katsina (9), Taraba (8), Kwara (6), Bauchi (6), Kano (5), Jigawa (4), Sokoto (3), Yobe (1), Borno (1), and Niger (1).

Age Distribution

In terms of age distribution for confirmed cases in 2024, individuals aged 0–10 account for 24 cases, ages 11–20 have recorded 15 cases, ages 21–30 have 25 cases, ages 31–40 account for 14 cases, ages 41–50 have 12 cases, and those aged 50 and above have recorded four cases.