Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reveals a notable gender disparity in Mpox infections. Since January 2024, 67% of Mpox cases in Nigeria have been among males. Historically, men have constituted about 70% of Mpox cases since the disease was first confirmed in Nigeria in 2017.
In 2024, there have been 1,031 suspected cases across 47 local government areas, with 67 confirmed cases so far. Children under five years old and adults aged 26-30 and 46-50 are the most affected. Notably, no fatalities from Mpox have been reported in 2024, in contrast to two deaths in 2022 and seven in 2023.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, spreads through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects. The World Health Organisation has declared Mpox a global public health emergency, with Nigeria recently receiving 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine from the US to help combat the outbreak.
