The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified monitoring and screening at all entry points into the country following the rising cases of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox.
This decision comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed 39 cases of Mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the beginning of 2024.
Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, revealed the government’s enhanced efforts in a statement released on Thursday. The statement, signed by Pate’s Special Adviser on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, emphasized the seriousness of the outbreak and the government’s commitment to containing it.
“The country has intensified monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points in response to the threat of Mpox, Clade 1,” the statement read. This strain of the virus has been particularly deadly in previous outbreaks, with a fatality rate of up to 10% among those infected. Professor Pate underscored the importance of these measures, comparing them to the strategies employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To further bolster the nation’s defenses, the government has introduced a mandate requiring all travelers to Nigeria to complete an online health declaration form before their departure. Additionally, infectious disease centers have been activated in all 36 states and the FCT to respond swiftly to any potential outbreaks.
Professor Pate also urged the public to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after contact with an infected person or animal.
The African continent has been grappling with a growing Mpox outbreak, which recently led the Africa Centre for Disease Control to declare a public health emergency. The outbreak has been particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a new viral strain, Clade 1b, has emerged and spread to neighboring countries.
The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the rapid spread of this strain, which is believed to be transmitted primarily through sexual networks.
So far in 2024, Africa has reported approximately 2,863 confirmed Mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 countries. The disease, a rare viral zoonotic infection, is endemic in several African nations, particularly in the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. While the exact reservoir of the virus remains unknown, rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a role in its transmission.