Mpox Kills Three In Nigeria As Confirmed Cases Hit 136
Nigeria has recorded three deaths linked to Mpox in Abia, Ebonyi, and Rivers states, involving a young male suffering from advanced HIV and tuberculosis.
This brings the country’s Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for 2025 to 2.2 percent.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDC), a total of 723 suspected cases have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 136 confirmed in 27 states and the FCT.
NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during the National Health Security meeting held in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “An appropriate comprehensive and multi-tiered response strategy has been put in place, including the activation of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to provide both national and sub-national leadership through weekly review meetings with hotspot states.”
He explained that National Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to hotspot states to strengthen the response capacity of local health authorities, while “essential medicines, intravenous fluids, personal protective equipment, laboratory consumables and other necessary materials have been strategically distributed to and also prepositioned in states to ensure timely access during case surges.”
He noted that Mpox has shown a steady increase in Nigeria since its reemergence in 2017, with sharp spikes from 2022 to 2024, making the country one of the most affected globally.
“These figures suggest potential underreporting or delays in case and contact entry, pointing to a gap between field surveillance activities and timely data entry into electronic systems.
“The epidemic curve for the period demonstrates several peaks in both suspected and confirmed Mpox cases, highlighting a pattern of persistent transmission. The geographic distribution map for this period shows that nearly all states have reported suspected cases, with a significant concentration of confirmed cases occurring in the southern and central regions of the country.
“Since the beginning of 2025, Nigeria has continued to monitor and respond to Mpox outbreaks across the country through coordinated national surveillance efforts.”
He explained that Nigeria had not recorded Mpox-related deaths in recent years and added that the three new fatalities resulted from “pre-existing conditions of HIV and TB.”
He lamented, “Some states see the disease as an embarrassment and as a result, do not report cases.”
Idris said the capacity of state laboratories had been strengthened to conduct appropriate testing and ship samples for confirmation to the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Yaba, Lagos.
He said, “Five more Mpox laboratories have been optimised in five states (Bauchi, Kano, Cross River, Rivers and Enugu),” adding that mentorship is being provided to improve sample management, handling, and result reporting.
“Healthcare workers continue to receive targeted training in case management, including infection prevention and control (IPC), as well as hands-on workshops on lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) care best practices.”
Idris also disclosed that a mortality review meeting was being convened on the deaths in Abia, Ebonyi, and Rivers states.
He said, “These layered interventions aim to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations, and reduce mortality.
“Community outreach is being reinforced while daily coordination with state health teams ensures timely adaptation of messages based on community feedback.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
