Regina Otokpa 
The Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) has called on in the Federal Government to increase financial investments, improve and intensify surveillance at all points of entry to contain the outbreak of Mpox in the country.
The President of NIDS, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and Secretary General, Prof Mukhtar Adeiza in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, raised concerns over the
upsurge and expansion of both clade I and II-related Mpox outbreaks in Africa, particularly the emergence and spread of the new clade Ib strain.
While also raising concerns over the rapidly changing transmission patterns and the fluctuating epidemiological patterns of Mpox in Nigeria, Ogoina expressed concerns there may be under-reporting of Mpox cases in Nigeria.
According to him, the current number of
confirmed cases was likely significantly underestimated, even as he added that the rising number of cases in children who naturally were more vulnerable to more severe morbidity from infectious diseases was indication of a more generalized and unrecognized spread of the disease in the country.
The statement partly reads: “The rapidly changing transmission dynamics, including more sustained human-to-human transmissions and reports of sexual transmission, suggest that there have been inadequate investments in Mpox surveillance and preventive interventions across most affected countries, including Nigeria.
“There are still gaps in understanding the epidemiological characteristics of Mpox in Nigeria, including risk factors, transmission dynamics, and the natural history of the disease.
“NIDS calls for improved financial investments in Mpox surveillance and response activities by both Federal and State Governments in Nigeria.
“Concurrent investments in other endemic and epidemic diseases of relevance in Nigeria is needed to prevent their neglect during the mpox emergence public health response.
“There is an urgent need to implement enhanced and sustainable One Health Mpox surveillance in Nigeria, targeting animal exposures, environmental risk factors, and behavioral factors.
“It is essential to intensify surveillance at points of entry to prevent the importation of new strains of Mpox into Nigeria. Screening at points of entry should be preceded by education and awareness creation and should be conducted in a way that negates stigma and prevents false disclosures of health status.
“NIDS calls for investments in Mpox research and development in Nigeria to better understand the disease and develop cost-effective, innovative interventions, inclusive of research into repurposed drugs for Mpox treatment.”
