The Nigerian Red Cross’s director of health and care, Mannir Jega, has emphasized the immediate need for swift action to prevent the further spread of Mpox virus across the country. Speaking to health workers from 15 states at a training event in Kaduna, Jega noted that Bayelsa State has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, leading the country in case numbers, while the north-central region reports the highest prevalence in the northern states. He pointed out the necessity of health workers training, which has already taken place in 17 states and is still going on in places like Kano, Kaduna, and Edo in order to guarantee efficient response plans, Jega
By declaring the disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC) have demonstrated the urgent need for more robust action. It is particularly essential for Nigeria to strengthen its efforts as the nation falls amongst those significantly impacted by Mpox. In Epi Week 42 (October 14–20, 2024), 56 suspected cases were reported from 14 states and the FCT, 6 confirmed cases recorded from 6 states and 2 co-infection (Mpox and VZV) cases detected.
Spread of the disease highlights its urgency.
This year alone, the Nigeria CDC has reported 108 confirmed cases out of 1,395 suspected cases across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Although there have not been any reported fatality in Nigeria this year, the disease’s extreme spread highlights how urgent it is to take immediate action. NCDC continues to keep watch and control the country’s ongoing Mpox outbreak. To counter this escalating threat, the Nigerian Red Cross in coordination with the Ministry of Health, NCDC, and international partners has launched a comprehensive action strategy to stop the spread of Mpox and safeguard vulnerable groups.
As part of this effort, healthcare professionals across are getting training to provide them the skill sets and knowledge required for efficient disease control and management. To date, training has been provided to health workers from 32 states with an emphasis on safeguarding at-risk individuals in low-burden states and avoiding transmission. Despite these efforts, the fight against Mpox in Nigeria is far from over. Experts stress the necessity of ongoing public health education, early detection, and sufficient resources in order to control the outbreak. In the absence of prompt and concerted response, the outbreak may put additional strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, jeopardize economic stability, and leave communities with long-term problems.
Health experts are worried about the susceptible groups.
With the international health community uniting to combat the disease, Nigeria must also step up to the plate to safeguard its people and stop the disease’s catastrophic effects. Health professionals are particularly worried about the susceptible groups, such as youngsters and people with weakened immune systems. Similar to previous public health emergencies, the virus’s human-to-human transmission method might overwhelm Nigeria’s healthcare system if it spreads unchecked. The absence of fatalities in Nigeria so far is a fortunate outcome, but it provides little assurance against future complications if proactive measures are not taken.
Nigeria must draw critical insights from nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that have had major outbreaks, including fatalities, to prevent such consequences. Fatalities in other countries have often been linked to late diagnosis, complications in immunocompromised patients, and lack of access to Vaccines or treatment. Also, Nigeria has to increase access to healthcare, invest in early detection systems, and guarantee vaccination availability, particularly for high-risk groups, in order to prevent a similar trajectory.
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Moreover, the country can take inspiration from nations that have effectively lessened the effects of Mpox through extensive vaccine campaigns and public Education programs. A key takeaway is the significance of swiftly mobilizing resources and building community trust in public health programs. Nigeria should give more priority to data-driven tactics in addition to healthcare measures, as real-time data exchange and digital surveillance techniques have been proven to be more efficient in monitoring outbreaks and providing resources where they are most needed.