September 18, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has confirmed the rise in Monkey pox also known as Mpox cases among males in Nigeria.
The agency said Nigerian males account for 67% of reported cases since January 2024.
The latest figures reveal 1,031 suspected cases across 47 local government areas in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with 67 confirmed cases this year.
“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 agency said
This trend isn’t new, as previous outbreaks have also shown a higher incidence of Mpox among males.
According to report, “The age and sex distribution in the report showed that children under five years old are the most affected, followed by the 26-30 and 46-50 age groups”
In 2022, Nigeria recorded 812 confirmed cases, with 726 (89.4%) being males and 86 (10.6%) females.
The disease has primarily affected young adults, with 79.1% of respondents in a study being 44 years old or younger.
However, researchers suggest that the high incidence among males may be linked to sexual transmission, as well as contact with infected animals .
The NCDC’s findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns, particularly among high-risk groups.
Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
There are two distinct clades: Clade I, primarily affecting children and adolescents in Central Africa, and Clade II, responsible for the 2022 global outbreak.
