The Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have introduced a health declaration form for international travelers to mitigate the risk of a new strain of monkeypox, known as Clade Ib, from spreading to Nigeria.
This variant has been particularly aggressive, with significant outbreaks reported in several African nations, notably the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since September 2024.
The Clade Ib subclade is reported to be more transmissible and deadlier than previous strains, spreading primarily through person-to-person contact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that it is considering convening an expert committee to assess whether to declare an international emergency, similar to the response during the global mpox outbreak in 2022.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that affects both humans and animals. Symptoms include a rash that develops into blisters, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.
According to the Africa CDC, at least 16 of the continent's 55 countries have reported cases, with a total of 38,465 infections and 1,456 deaths recorded since January 2022. Last week alone, there were 887 new cases and five fatalities.
To prevent the disease's entry into Nigeria, the NCDC has mandated that airlines ensure passengers complete the health declaration form prior to arrival.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that this measure aims to monitor and control the potential importation of infectious diseases, thereby safeguarding public health.
