No fewer than 70 suspected cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) have been reported across the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State.
This was disclosed by Dr. Odianosen Ehiakhamen, Incident Manager at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), during a three-day capacity-building workshop organized by the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in partnership with the Delta State Ministry of Health.
Dr. Ehiakhamen explained that the training aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge and hands-on skills in surveillance, case detection, reporting, and infection prevention and control (IPC).
“We are engaging surveillance officers from key LGAs on Mpox and diphtheria not just to educate them but to reinforce surveillance, case management, and IPC systems,” he said.
Drawing from national data, he cautioned that Mpox cases continue to rise and are now emerging among younger populations.
“In just one week, we confirmed 17 new cases. We are now seeing infections in children, including newborns as young as 17 days old,” he said, noting that this shift suggests changing viral patterns and many undetected community cases.
He stressed the need for stronger coordination between health facilities and LGA surveillance teams, urging participants to close existing surveillance gaps, improve contact tracing, and tackle the stigma that prevents individuals from isolating or following up with health officials.
Representing the Delta State Ministry of Health, Ms. Nneka Imarhia confirmed that about 70 suspected cases have been reported across several LGAs, with higher numbers recorded in specific communities. She also praised the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, for its important role as one of the NCDC-approved testing centres for Mpox in the state.
According to her, FMC Asaba works closely with the national Mpox coordination system and has a multidisciplinary team of infectious-disease experts and dermatologists who maintain a high index of suspicion, enabling rapid testing and confirmation.
In her remarks, the Assistant Coordinator for Health and Care at the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr. Bassey Imoke, said the training was organized at the request of the Delta State Government and the NCDC to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers amid ongoing disease outbreaks.
Red Cross officials reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the state government and the NCDC in curbing the spread of infectious diseases, noting that continuously training health workers is essential to safeguarding communities.
Throughout the workshop, experts stressed the need for an integrated approach in handling multiple outbreaks.
“We are not just focusing on Mpox; we are looking at Mpox, diphtheria, and Lassa fever together. They must all be managed within a unified, coordinated response system,” they said.
Participants described the workshop as timely and impactful, adding that it improved their ability to identify, manage, and report suspected cases effectively within their communities.
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