Nigeria records 49 Monkeypox cases

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), 49 confirmed cases of monkeypox (Mpox) had been reported as of December 23.

The NCDC reported on Thursday that there had been a 9% increase in the number of new confirmed cases since the last update via its official website.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the disease that originated in Africa has been renamed Mpox to eliminate the racial and derogatory terminology that was previously used for it.

When Mpox expanded globally earlier this year, it raised anxiety. While there have been fewer cases, experts warn that now is not the time to become complacent.

The public health office announced that seven deaths with a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 1% were reported from 36 states and the federal capital territory, for a total of 753 confirmed cases across the nation (FCT).

According to the NCDC, the number of cases of measles in the nation has been on the rise. The organization noted that it is stepping up its control efforts to stop the virus' spread.

It was stated that this includes community sensitization, which is crucial for ensuring early disease diagnosis and notification.

The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, declared that it is assisting national initiatives to improve disease surveillance, case investigations, laboratory testing, and public awareness of Mpox.

Since 2017, Nigeria has been affected by the Mpox virus, which has milder symptoms similar to those of long-extinct smallpox.

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