Nigeria has intensified its border surveillance and health screening measures in response to the growing threat of mpox across Africa.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced these heightened precautions on Thursday.
In a statement released by Tashikalmah Hallah, the minister’s Senior Adviser for Media and External Relations, Pate outlined the government’s proactive approach to preventing the spread of the viral disease within Nigeria’s borders.
“The Nigeria Ports Health Services began taking steps to fortify Nigeria’s defences before the declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency by global health bodies,” Pate stated.
He emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that “This Mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10 per cent of individuals who have fallen ill in previous outbreaks.”
The minister detailed several measures being implemented to mitigate the potential impact of mpox:
1. Enhanced monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points.
2. A new mandate requiring all travelers to complete an online health declaration form before entering the country.
3. Activation of infectious disease centers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Pate 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 potentially infected individuals or animals.
The heightened vigilance comes in the wake of a significant mpox outbreak in parts of Africa. As of August 4, the continent had recorded 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths since January 2022, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone accounting for over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday.
WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, expressed concern about the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond, stating, “A coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives.”
The Explainer gathered that the current outbreak is particularly alarming due to the emergence of a new, more virulent variant. While previous outbreaks were caused by the relatively mild Clade 2 strain, the current spread involves the deadlier Clade 1 virus. A further mutation, dubbed Clade 1b, was discovered in September 2023 and has been labeled by scientists as “the most dangerous yet.”
Adding to the global concern, Sweden recently reported the first confirmed case of mpox Clade 1 outside of Africa. The infected individual had recently visited Africa and sought medical attention in Stockholm.
Mpox is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with infected animals’ blood and bodily fluids.
Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions, or contaminated objects. The virus is part of the same family as smallpox but is generally less severe and less contagious.
Symptoms of mpox include fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions. While vaccines can help prevent and control outbreaks, they are typically only available for high-risk individuals or those in close contact with infected persons.
