by The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that more men are being infected with Mpox in Nigeria.
According to data shared on Monday, 67% of Mpox cases recorded since January 2024 have been in males. The NCDC revealed that since the first confirmed cases in 2017, men have accounted for about 70% of the 6,001 suspected and confirmed Mpox cases in the country.
The NCDC’s report showed that in 2024, there have been 1,031 suspected cases of Mpox across 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with 67 confirmed cases. The age group most affected are children under five years, followed by individuals aged 26-30 and 46-50.
Despite the rise in infections, there have been no deaths from Mpox in 2024. This contrasts with previous years, where two deaths were recorded in 2022 and seven in 2023.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, can result in symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. While most people recover, it can lead to serious illness in some cases. The virus can spread from animals to humans, as well as between humans through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
In a global context, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency, with the Democratic Republic of Congo being the epicenter of the outbreak in Africa. The WHO has approved the first Mpox vaccine, MVA-BN, to help control the spread of the virus.
Nigeria also recently received a donation of 10,000 doses of the Jynneos Mpox vaccine from the United States to help reduce transmission and contain the outbreak.
