Monkeypox Outbreak: FG to screen inbound international passengers

The Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have designed a health declaration form for international passengers to guide against the surging new strain of monkeypox in some African countries from spreading to Nigeria.

The new variant of monkeypox started ravaging African countries especially DR Congo in September 2024.

Deadlier and more transmissible than previous forms, the mpox strain, known as the Clade Ib subclade, spread from person to person.

Nine days ago, the World Health Organisation said it was considering convening an expert committee to advise on whether to declare an international emergency, as it did during the global mpox outbreak in 2022.

Mpox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals. Symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over fever and swollen lymph nodes.

At least 16 countries of the continent’s 55 nations have been hit by the disease, according to the Africa CDC.

Some 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths have been reported in Africa since January 2022. Of these, 887 cases and five deaths were reported last week, according to data from Africa CDC.

To prevent the disease from coming into Nigeria, the NCDC has mandated airlines to ensure passengers fill out the declaration form before making their way into Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Health stated on its website that “this form is an instituted measure to prevent the spread, monitor the possible importation of infectious diseases and aid the control of disease outbreaks thereby protecting the health of all Nigerians.”

In a travel advisory by British Airways to its passengers, the airline said, “Due to the recent outbreak of MonkeyPox in some parts of Africa, the Ministry of Health through Port Health Services has introduced a Health Declaration Form to be completed by all arriving customers into the country (LOS + ABV stations) WEF from today.

“To avoid being delayed/stopped from entering the country, kindly encourage all customers departing LHR for LOS and ABV stations to go online and complete/submit the form before they board.”