Nigeria escalates surveillance at entry points as mpox spreads in Africa

Nigeria has intensified monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points in response to the threat of monkeypox, clade 1.

The coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said this in a statement by his spokesman, Tashikalmah Hallah.

Mr Hallah said monkeypox, caused by a highly contagious and deadly monkeypox virus, has been causing widespread devastation in several regions of Africa.

This has prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a Global Health Emergency, necessitating urgent and coordinated international action to contain its spread and mitigate its impact.

The minister stated on Thursday, August 14, 2024, explaining that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and the Nigeria Ports Health Services, under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had been taking steps to fortify Nigeria’s defences even before the declaration of mpox a public health emergency by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and prevention.

This mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10% of individuals who have fallen ill in previous outbreaks. He added that the aim is to tackle and mitigate its impact by deploying measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Pate further explained that the government had implemented a new mandate requiring all travellers to complete an online health declaration form before departing for the country. This measure is being introduced alongside the activation of infectious disease centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister also advised the public to practice good hygiene, frequent hand washing with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after contact with an infected person or animal.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing close to another person. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal, with 4 in 100 cases leading to death.

Outbreaks of Mpox can also be prevented and controlled with vaccines, although these are usually only available for people at risk or those in close contact with an infected person.