As part of efforts to mitigate the outbreak of monkeypox in the country, the Nigerian government has called on relevant stakeholders to intensify surveillance especially on animals. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, who made the call in Abuja said the points of entry for wildlife are under scrutiny as the disease could affect farmers and cause low agricultural production and productivity if unchecked.
He said there was need for continued collaboration with relevant sectors to promptly contain the disease in the event of an outbreak. While calling for increased hygiene, hand washing and the use of alcohol based sanitizers after contact with infected animals or humans, the Minister said awareness is ongoing among hunting communities to tackle the disease.
He further advised the public to avoid contact with animals that are sick or found dead. Also since the 13th of May 2022, cases of monkeypox was reported to the World Health Organisation, WHO by 12 member states across the regions. Between September 2017 to date, a total of about 558 suspected cases of Monkeypox have been confirmed across the country.
Monkeypox was first detected in 1958 in monkeys and rodents but now transmissible to man and other animals. Symptoms for the disease include fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion.
