The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported the confirmation of 55 cases of Mpox from a total of 935 suspected instances across 39 local government areas in 21 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This information was shared on the NCDC's official website, which also indicated that there have been no fatalities attributed to the disease this year. The data reveals that 70 percent of the confirmed cases are male, while 30 percent are female.

Additionally, the age distribution of the confirmed Mpox cases shows that there were 19 cases among individuals aged 0-10, eight cases in the 11-20 age group, and 12 cases in those aged 21-30.

“Additionally, eight cases were recorded in ages 31-40, seven cases in ages 41-50, and one case in an individual aged 50 and above.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) provided a detailed breakdown of the confirmed cases, indicating that eight individuals tested positive in Enugu, six in Bayelsa, six in Akwa-Ibom, five in Cross River, three in Delta, three in Benue, and three in Plateau.

Others are: Osun (two), Imo (two), FCT (two), Anambra (two), Rivers (two), Abia (two), while Lagos, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Edo, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Oyo, Kaduna, and Niger had one case each.

The NCDC reported that since September 2017, there have been 4,752 suspected cases documented across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 1,141 of these confirmed cases (24.0 percent) from 35 states and the FCT, resulting in 17 fatalities.

The majority of those affected are males, accounting for approximately 70 percent.

The Nigerian public health agency highlighted that the National Mpox multi-sectoral and multi-partner Emergency Operation Centre continues to oversee coordinated responses nationwide.

Mpox, a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, shares similarities with smallpox but is typically less severe, presenting symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

The disease can be transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread between individuals through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.

In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Mpox as a global public health emergency, while the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention declared it a public health emergency of continental security on August 13.

Although the Democratic Republic of Congo is at the center of the outbreak, Mpox cases have been reported in at least 13 African nations, with Guinea recently confirming its first instance.

Additionally, the virus has been identified in Pakistan, the Philippines, Sweden, and Thailand.