Nigeria is stepping up its fight against Mpox. The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has reviewed the country’s Mpox management guidelines and launched new awareness campaigns.
The move comes as the virus continues to spread. As of 19 October 2025, Nigeria had recorded 389 confirmed cases and six deaths across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Officials say these updates aim to strengthen clinical response, improve home-based care, and increase public awareness to reduce transmission and stigma.
Why the Guidelines Were Updated
Nigeria’s last Mpox guidelines were developed in 2019. They no longer reflected current WHO recommendations, new antiviral therapies, or the evolving nature of outbreaks. The revised version includes guidance on diagnosis, case management, and infection prevention and control (IPC).
A major addition is Nigeria’s first national home-based care and isolation protocol. This protocol helps doctors determine which patients can safely isolate at home instead of in hospitals. It aims to reduce overcrowding, cut costs, and minimise household transmission through safe practices.
According to WHO, this approach will allow families to care for mild cases safely while ensuring severe cases receive timely medical attention.
Improving Care and Reducing Transmission
The updated guidelines are designed to:
- Improve clinical care and patient outcomes.
- Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
- Strengthen surveillance and data systems.
- Enhance communication between healthcare providers.
Health workers now have access to clearer referral pathways, triage tools, and digital data-reporting systems. These tools help detect outbreaks early and guide a faster response.
The NCDC says that better coordination between hospitals and communities will shorten response times and reduce missed cases.
Community Awareness and Risk Communication
Alongside medical updates, Nigeria is expanding public awareness campaigns in the 15 states most at risk. These include Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, and Nasarawa.
The campaigns focus on helping people recognise Mpox symptoms, report suspected cases, and take preventive steps.
Over 570 frontline health workers have been trained in triage, infection prevention, and community education. They are now leading outreach programs in markets, schools, churches, and mosques.
Community health volunteers are also being trained to detect early cases, track contacts, and share correct information.
Outreach methods include:
- House-to-house visits and town hall meetings.
- Radio and TV broadcasts in local languages.
- Engagement with religious and traditional leaders.
These efforts are helping fight stigma and misinformation, which have slowed detection in some communities.
Why This Matters
Mpox remains endemic in Nigeria, meaning the virus continues to circulate within the population. Since 2017, the country has recorded over 1,000 confirmed cases and dozens of deaths.
WHO experts note that controlling Mpox requires both medical and social interventions. Updated guidelines ensure doctors can provide better treatment, while awareness campaigns encourage people to report symptoms early.
Together, these actions can reduce community spread, protect healthcare workers, and build public trust.
How Nigeria Developed the New Guidelines
Earlier this year, a national workshop brought together health experts from across the country. Participants included clinicians, epidemiologists, infection control officers, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF.
The group reviewed the 2019 guidelines and identified major gaps, such as:
- No guidance on new antiviral options.
- Weak coordination between home and hospital care.
- Outdated triage and referral charts.
- Limited digital reporting systems.
The new edition now includes:
- Clearer case definitions and management steps.
- Updated IPC standards for hospitals and households.
- Criteria for home-based isolation and discharge.
- Digital tools for real-time reporting.
According to an NCDC official, these updates will make Nigeria’s response “more agile, data-driven, and people-centred.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite the progress, Nigeria still faces several obstacles.
1. Low Public Awareness
Recent studies show that fewer than half of Nigerians fully understand what Mpox is or how it spreads. Many people still confuse it with chickenpox or skin allergies.
2. Limited Vaccine Access
Nigeria received 10,000 Mpox vaccine doses from the U.S. in 2024, but supply remains too small for its population of over 200 million. Vaccination campaigns have begun, but coverage is uneven, especially in rural areas.
3. Stigma and Misinformation
Mpox often causes visible rashes, which can lead to discrimination. Some infected people hide their symptoms, fearing isolation or social exclusion. Health workers are working with local leaders to promote empathy and accurate information.
4. Health System Gaps
Many rural clinics still lack personal protective equipment (PPE), antiviral drugs, and isolation rooms. Weak internet connectivity also affects digital reporting.
5. Zoonotic Risk
Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread between humans and animals. Poor surveillance in animal populations, especially rodents and monkeys, increases the risk of new outbreaks.
Targeted Response
To address these challenges, Nigeria is focusing resources on high-risk states and border regions. These areas often report more infections due to population movement and weak health infrastructure.
The government is also improving cross-border collaboration with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and Benin to prevent regional spread.
The new One Health approach—linking human, animal, and environmental health—is part of this strategy. Officials believe this integrated model will reduce spillover risk and improve preparedness for future zoonotic diseases.
Monitoring Progress
In the coming months, health officials will track several key indicators:
- How fast hospitals adopt the new Mpox guidelines.
- How many people are trained in home-based care.
- Whether public awareness increases.
- The number of new infections and deaths.
- Vaccine uptake and availability across regions.
The NCDC plans to publish more detailed reports, including case distribution by state, to increase transparency and accountability.
Sustaining the Momentum
Experts warn that updating guidelines is only the beginning. Sustained funding and political support are essential to maintain progress.
WHO has pledged ongoing technical support, while local NGOs are mobilising volunteers to continue outreach in hard-to-reach communities.
Nigeria’s health ministry has also emphasised that Mpox control should be part of broader disease preparedness, since the same systems can help tackle future outbreaks like Lassa fever or Ebola.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s review of its Mpox guidelines and expansion of community awareness mark an important milestone in public health preparedness. By combining stronger clinical management, clearer home-based protocols, and grassroots education, the country is taking a proactive stance against Mpox.
The success of this strategy will depend on consistent implementation, public cooperation, and sustained investment. If Nigeria can bridge awareness gaps and strengthen its health systems, it could set an example for other African nations facing endemic diseases.
Each trained health worker, informed family, and early-reported case brings the country one step closer to containing Mpox—and building a safer, healthier future.
