The Federal Authorities 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 Well being and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, disclosed this in an announcement on Thursday signed by his Particular Adviser on Media & Exterior Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah.
The Africa Centre for Illness Management on Tuesday declared a public well being emergency over the rising mpox outbreak on the continent.
The outbreak has swept by means of a number of African international locations, significantly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There’s a severe and rising outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has now expanded outdoors the nation. A brand new viral pressure, which first emerged in September 2023, has, for the primary time been detected outdoors DRC.
The World Well being Organisation pressured that the emergence final 12 months and speedy unfold of a brand new virus pressure in DRC, clade 1b, which seems to be spreading primarily by means of sexual networks, and its detection in international locations neighbouring the DRC are particularly regarding, and one of many important causes for the declaration of the PHEIC.
To date, 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 12 months 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 an element in transmission.
The mpox virus can unfold each from animal to human and from human to human. Animal-to-human transmission might 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 will occur by means of a chunk, 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, comparable to clothes or bedding.
Signs of the sickness embrace fever, headache, physique aches, weak spot, swollen lymph nodes (glands), and a rash. After about one to 3 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 will additionally happen in and across the genitals, which is why contact throughout intercourse is one other mode of transmission.
“The Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, emphasised that the nation has intensified monitoring and screening procedures in any respect entry factors in response to the specter of Mpox, Clade 1,” the assertion learn partially.
The minister said that the Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention, and the Nigeria Ports Well being Companies, beneath the Federal Ministry of Well being 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 pressure has prompted fatalities in as much as 10 per cent of people who’ve fallen unwell in earlier outbreaks. He added that the intention is to deal with and mitigate its influence by deploying measures much like these used through the COVID-19 pandemic,” he famous.
He additional defined that the federal government had applied 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 launched alongside the activation of infectious illness centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.
The minister additionally suggested the general public to observe good hygiene, frequent hand washing with cleaning soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly after contact with an contaminated particular person or animal.