In the wake of Monkey Pox (Mpox) global outbreak, the Federal Government (FG) has intensified monitoring and screening procedures at all borders to prevent the epidemic.
This was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media & External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah.
On Tuesday, the Africa Centre for Diseases Control, declared a public health emergency over the growing outbreak of the disease on the continent.
The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There is a serious and growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has now expanded outside the country. A new viral strain, which first emerged in September 2023, has, for the first time been detected outside DRC.
The World Health Organisation stressed that the emergence last year and rapid spread of a new virus strain in DRC, clade 1b, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks, and its detection in countries neighbouring the DRC are especially concerning, and one of the main reasons for the declaration of the PHEIC.
So far, about 2,863 confirmed mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.
In Nigeria, cumulatively, a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States and the FCT, from the beginning of the year 2024.
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