The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate has said monitoring and screening procedures at all entry points in the country have been intensified to control the spread of Mpox Clade 1 which was led to 517 deaths across 13 African countries in 2024 alone. Pate in a statement signed by his SA/Media & External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and The Nigeria Ports Health Services, under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had been taking steps to fortify Nigeria’s defences even before the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and prevention declared Mpox a public health emergency.
According to him, the government had implemented a new mandate requiring all travellers to complete an online health declaration form before departing for the country. This measure is being introduced alongside the activation of infectious disease centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. While noting that Mpox Clade 1 strain has caused fatalities in up to 10% of individuals who have fallen ill in previous outbreaks, the Minister added that the aim was to tackle and mitigate its impact by deploying measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pate advised the public to practice good hygiene, frequent hand washing with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after contact with an infected person or animal. Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing close to another person. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal, with 4 in 100 cases leading to death.
Outbreaks of Mpox can also be prevented and controlled with vaccines, although these are usually only available for people at risk or those in close contact with an infected person..
