The Federal Government has intensified monitoring and screening procedures in any respect entry factors within the nation in response to the monkey pox (Mpox) outbreak.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, disclosed this in an announcement on Thursday signed by his Special Adviser on Media & External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday declared a public well being emergency over the rising mpox outbreak on the continent.
The outbreak has swept via a number of African international locations, notably the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There is a severe and rising outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has now expanded exterior the nation. A brand new viral pressure, which first emerged in September 2023, has, for the primary time been detected exterior DRC.
The World Health Organisation pressured that the emergence final yr and speedy unfold of a brand new virus pressure in DRC, clade 1b, which seems to be spreading primarily via sexual networks, and its detection in international locations neighbouring the DRC are particularly regarding, and one of many fundamental causes for the declaration of the PHEIC.
So far, about 2,863 confirmed mpox circumstances and 517 deaths throughout 13 African international locations have been reported in 2024 alone.
In Nigeria, cumulatively, a complete of 39 confirmed circumstances and 0 deaths have been recorded throughout 33 States and the FCT, from the start of the yr 2024.
Mpox is a uncommon viral zoonotic infectious illness (i.e., illness of animals transmitted from animals to people) that’s endemic in a number of African international locations together with the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. The precise reservoir of the virus remains to be unknown, though rodents, squirrels,s and monkeys are suspected to play a component in transmission.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The mpox virus can unfold each from animal to human and from human to human. Animal-to-human transmission could happen by direct contact with the blood, physique fluids, pores and skin, or mucosal lesions of contaminated animals (e.g., monkeys, squirrels, and rodents). This can occur via a chew, scratch, dealing with of, or consuming inadequately cooked or different merchandise of contaminated bushmeat. Human-to-human (person-to-person) transmission happens when an individual comes into contact with the virus from an contaminated human or supplies contaminated with the virus, equivalent to clothes or bedding.
Symptoms of the sickness embody fever, headache, physique aches, weak point, swollen lymph nodes (glands), and a rash. After about one to a few days of fever, the rash erupts, starting on the face after which spreading to the physique with the face and palms/soles being largely affected. They can even happen in and across the genitals, which is why contact throughout intercourse is one other mode of transmission.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, emphasised that the country has intensified monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points in response to the threat of Mpox, Clade 1,” the assertion learn partly.
The minister acknowledged that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Nigeria Ports Health Services, below the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had been taking steps to fortify Nigeria’s defences earlier than the declaration of mpox as a public well being emergency.
“This Mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10 per cent 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,” he famous.
He additional defined that the federal government had carried out a brand new mandate requiring all travellers to finish a web-based well being declaration kind earlier than departing for the nation.
“This measure is being introduced alongside the activation of infectious disease centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.
The minister additionally suggested the general public to follow good hygiene, frequent hand washing with cleaning soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly after contact with an contaminated individual or animal.