The African Union’s health watchdog 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.
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals.
Its symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The illness is usually mild and most of those infected will recover within a few weeks without treatment.
Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.
“With a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as public health emergency of continental security,” Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said on Tuesday.
“Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart and the pain and suffering have touched every corner of our continent.”
According to CDC data as of August 4, there had been 38,465 cases of mpox and 1,456 deaths in Africa since January 2022.
“This declaration is not merely a formality, it is a clarion call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” said Kaseya.
To prevent the spread of mpox into Nigeria, the ministry of health on Sunday mandated all travellers entering the country to fill and submit a health declaration form.
The ministry said the directive, instituted to curb the spread of the disease, took effect immediately for passengers arriving at the airports in Abuja and Lagos.
Travellers can access and fill the form online or print and fill a physical copy.
The ministry encouraged all passengers to fill and submit the form online before departing their locations to avoid delays upon arriving in Nigeria.
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