Monkeypox: FG Issues Advisory On Disease Resurgence

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued advisory note on monkeypox resurgence in humans.
A statement personally signed by the Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, and made available to newsmen, said the advisory followed recent confirmation by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of Monkeypox (MP) resurgence in Nigeria on May 29, 2022, which involved 21 persons and the death of one person with co-morbidity.
According to the statement, the ministry’s Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services was collaborating with NCDC and other stakeholders in the One Health Team, to ensure the situation was contained and brought under control.
The ministry gave the following advice:”People must avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with Monkeypox at home and at work places.
“Hunters and dealers of ‘Bushmeat’ must desist from the practice forthwith to prevent any possibility of ‘spill over’ of the pathogen in Nigeria.
“Transport of wild animals and their products within and across the borders should be suspended/restricted.
“Silos, stores and other agricultural storage facilities must institute active rodent control measures to prevent contacts and possible contamination of Monkeypox virus with foodstuff.
“All operators of zoos, parks, conservation and recreational centres keeping non-human primates in their domains must ensure strict compliance with their biosecurity protocols aimed at preventing their contacts with humans.
“All veterinary clinics, veterinary teaching hospitals and other veterinary health institutions across the country must ensure vigilance so as to be able to pick possible signs and symptoms of Monkeypox in non-human primate (NHP) patients.
“We must also ensure regular handwashing using strong disinfectant anytime we handle NHP and rodents in our various locations.
“We must also discourage the act of consumption, trade and keeping of NHP as well as rodents as pets in our homes.
“The general public are hereby advised to report any pox-like lesions seen on humans or animals to the nearest human or veterinary clinics, respectively.
“Lastly, veterinary epidemiology officers, field surveillance agents and veterinarians should step up their surveillance activities aimed at picking any possible case of Monkeypox in animals,” the advisory reads.