Chijioke Iremeka As the monkeypox (mpox) outbreak in Africa spreads, epidemiologists have said the Federal Government’s directive mandating all travellers entering the country to fill out a health declaration form in only two international airports won’t halt the importation of dangerous strain into Nigeria. The public health physicians said although Nigeria has its mpox variants with no fewer than 39 cases recorded since February till date, the Federal Government must intensify monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points in the country to prevent the importation of deadlier variants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into the country. The physicians pointed out that overlooking travellers entering through Port Harcourt, Kano, and various land borders poses a potential risk.
PUNCH Healthwise reports the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention designed the health declaration form for international passengers to guide against the surging new strain of mpox in some African countries from spreading to the country. The ministry said the directive, instituted to curb the spread of the disease, takes effect from August 11, for passengers arriving at the airports in Abuja and Lagos The Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday declared a public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent. The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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