In a bid to curb the spread of Mpox in Nigeria, the United States Agency for International Development has provided the country with 10,000 doses of Jynneos vaccines.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday during the official handover ceremony, Dr. Muyi Aina, the Director General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency announced that the distribution of the vaccines would begin immediately.
He emphasized that priority would be given to states with the highest reported cases of Mpox and to frontline healthcare workers.
Dr. Aina expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for their generous support, committing to the responsible and effective use of the vaccines.
He noted that the donation would play a crucial role in saving lives and preventing the further spread of Mpox in Nigeria.
At a press briefing earlier this month, Dr. Jide Idris, the Director General of Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, announced the declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. He revealed that the NCDC is ramping up surveillance efforts across Nigeria to quickly identify and address new cases.
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Dr. Idris stated that all port health services at the country’s five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land border crossings are on heightened alert. He also mentioned that certain states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been placed on high alert to ensure a swift response to any potential outbreaks.
The World Health Organization, WHO, has recently declared the surge of Mpox cases in Africa a global public health emergency, expressing concern over the rising number of infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and the spread to neighboring countries.
In response to the growing outbreak, the WHO convened a panel of experts to assess the situation and provide recommendations to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.
“Today, the emergency committee convened and advised me that the current situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted their recommendation,” Dr. Tedros announced during a press conference.
He emphasized that this is an issue that demands global attention and assured that the WHO is fully committed to coordinating a global response in the coming days and weeks. The organization will work closely with affected countries, leveraging its on-the-ground presence to prevent further transmission, provide treatment to those infected, and save lives.
This decision follows the African Union’s health agency declaring a public health emergency in response to the escalating Mpox outbreak.
The virus, which was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970 when it was known as monkeypox, has rapidly spread through the DRC and into other neighboring countries.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the DRC has already reported over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year, surpassing the total number of cases recorded in the previous year.
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