Nigeria Postpones Vaccination Campaign as Mpox Cases Surge 500% in Africa Amid Ongoing Outbreak
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Nigeria has postponed its planned vaccination campaign in response to a significant rise in Mpox cases across Africa, which have surged by 500% compared to last year. This alarming data was presented by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) during a news briefing on Thursday, where Ngashi Ngongo, a representative from the organization, indicated that the outbreak remains uncontrolled and is on an upward trend.
The outbreak has expanded to 19 countries, with Mauritius recently reporting cases of Mpox, marking it as the latest affected nation. While vaccination rates have reportedly exceeded 100% in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, challenges persist in accessing child-friendly vaccines, a critical concern amid the ongoing outbreak.
Since January 2024, the continent has witnessed a dramatic increase in confirmed Mpox cases, leading to over 48,000 reported possible cases and 1,048 deaths in African countries this year alone. Central Africa has been particularly hard hit, accounting for approximately 86% of all cases and nearly all deaths, with a staggering 99.5% of fatalities occurring in this region.
Although the specific reasons for Nigeria’s decision to postpone its vaccination campaign were not disclosed, the move reflects the urgent need for a coordinated response to the escalating outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously declared Mpox a global health emergency in mid-August after scientists identified a new strain of the virus that has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries.
Ngongo emphasized the importance of mobilizing political engagement and financial support to manage the current outbreak effectively. He expressed concern about the potential for the Mpox virus, particularly the clade 1b strain, to evolve into a more severe sexually transmitted pandemic, likening its potential impact to that of COVID-19.
The virus can be transmitted through close contact, including sexual activity, and scientists have already identified the new strain in several European countries, including Sweden, Germany, and Britain. As the situation develops, health officials stress the need for vigilance and proactive measures to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
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