Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that there is a higher incidence of Mpox infections among males in Nigeria.
According to the NCDC website, since January 2024, 67% of Mpox cases have been reported in males.
The agency reported that men accounted for about 70% of the 6,001 suspected and confirmed Mpox cases in Nigeria since September 2017.
The agency said, “Men are predominantly affected, accounting for approximately 70 per cent of 6,001 suspected and confirmed Mpox cases recorded in Nigeria since September 2017, when the first confirmed cases occurred.”
The report also revealed that there have been 1,031 suspected cases reported across various regions in Nigeria, with 67 confirmed cases in 2024.
Children under five years old are the most affected age group, followed by individuals in the 26-30 and 46-50 age groups.
Despite the high number of cases, there have been no fatalities reported in 2024, in contrast to previous years.
The WHO has declared Mpox a global public health emergency, with efforts being made to contain the outbreak.
Nigeria has received a donation of 10,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine from the United States government to help in the fight against the disease.
