The Federal Government has ramped up monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points into Nigeria in response to the ongoing Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak.
This was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, in a statement released on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there have been 39 confirmed cases of Mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2024, with no reported deaths.
Prof. Pate emphasised that the government has intensified efforts at all entry points to address the threat of Mpox, specifically the Clade 1 strain. The statement also noted that the NCDC and the Nigeria Ports Health Services, under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, have been proactively strengthening the country’s defences even before the disease was declared a public health emergency.
The Clade 1 strain of Mpox has previously caused fatalities in up to 10% of infected individuals during earlier outbreaks. The minister stated that the government aims to mitigate the impact of this outbreak by implementing measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of these measures, the government has introduced a new requirement for all travelers to complete an online health declaration form before departing for Nigeria. Additionally, infectious disease centers have been activated in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Prof. Pate also advised the public to maintain good hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after contact with an infected person or animal.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control recently declared a public health emergency due to the escalating Mpox outbreak across the continent, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a new viral strain, Clade 1b, emerged in September 2023. The strain has since spread beyond the DRC and is primarily being transmitted through sexual networks, prompting concern from the World Health Organisation.
In 2024, 2,863 confirmed Mpox cases and 517 deaths will have been reported across 13 African countries.
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. It is endemic in several African countries, particularly in the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. Although the exact reservoir of the virus remains unknown, rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a role in its transmission.
In a related development, the Rivers State Government on Thursday presented 46 motorcycles to tuberculosis (TB) supervisors and their deputies in the state’s 23 local councils. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the tracking and treatment of TB in hard-to-reach areas of the state.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, stated that the gesture, done in collaboration with partners including the Federal Ministry of Health, is part of efforts to eliminate TB in the state. She highlighted the importance of active community surveillance in tackling the deadly infection and noted that the motorcycles would enable health officials to identify and treat infected individuals in remote communities.
