As Nigeria navigates through 2024, the nation faces a significant public health challenge with the resurgence of Monkeypox, now referred to as Mpox. This zoonotic disease, which can transmit from animals to humans and between people in densely populated areas, has resurfaced with alarming speed and reach.
By Abujah Racheal
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 40 Mpox cases out of 830 suspected cases, spreading across 13 states. The South-South, South-East, Lagos, and Ogun regions have emerged as significant hotspots, raising concerns about Nigeria’s readiness to handle such public health crises effectively.
Mpox is not new to Nigeria; it was first recorded in the 1970s, primarily in rural areas where human-wildlife interaction is common. However, the current outbreak is spreading faster and wider than before, with a 25% increase in confirmed cases over the past month alone. This trend exposes not only a public health challenge but also a failure to contain the disease early on.
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Public health experts warn of the potential for a larger outbreak if swift action is not taken. Meanwhile, neighboring Ghana has managed its Mpox cases more effectively through rapid government action, mobile health units, and strong community engagement, keeping case numbers relatively low.
In contrast, Nigeria’s response has been slower and less coordinated, with delays in information dissemination that have led to public confusion and eroded trust. Public health communication specialist Dr. Raheema Alao highlighted the consequences of this delay, warning that misinformation could spread quickly, particularly in rural areas with limited access to accurate news.
Personal stories, like that of Shasudeen Ibrahim in Abuja, reveal the human toll of the Mpox outbreak. Misdiagnosis and lack of clear information have left many families struggling to manage the disease, especially in under-resourced rural areas where traditional medicine and self-isolation are often the only options.
Experts like Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a leading virologist, stress the need for local vaccine production to reduce dependency on global supplies and ensure quicker access during outbreaks. He reflects on Nigeria’s successful response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, where coordinated public health efforts and strict quarantine measures helped halt the virus’s spread without a vaccine.
However, the systems established during the Ebola crisis were largely dismantled once the threat passed, leaving Nigeria vulnerable to the current Mpox outbreak. Public health expert Dr. Solomon Chollom argues that the lessons from Ebola have not been fully integrated into current practices.
To address these challenges, Nigeria must implement comprehensive reforms across the health sector, including investing in modern disease surveillance, expanding testing capacity, and strengthening public health infrastructure. The Mpox outbreak serves as a stark reminder that Nigeria’s future healthcare capacity depends on the actions taken today.
