The President of Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), Prof. Sammy Sam-Wobo, has called for increased surveillance at entry points to prevent the spread of Mpox in the country.
He made the call in an interview in Lagos on Monday, adding that the measure would help to tackle the spread of the new strain reported in other countries.
He explained that though the response process used during COVID-19 had been activated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there is a need to increase surveillance at the various entry points to the country.
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.
The disease, which initially broke out in Central Africa, has since spread to several West African countries, including Nigeria, where 39 cases have been officially recorded.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.
There had been reports of a deadlier Mpox new strain called “Clade 1″ in Thailand and Sweden, which is a different variety than the less severe
Clade II strain that fueled the global mpox outbreak in 2022.
Sam-Wobo, therefore, explained that the theology of Mpox is similar to that of COVID-19, the country’s healthcare personnel can handle this current situation effectively the way COVID-19 was managed.
He added that “the Federal Government set up response processes during COVID-19 and that is what NCDC is leveraging on, but we still need to increase surveillance at entry points into the country.”
The president urged Nigerians to adhere to NCDC precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus and present early to government-designated health facilities for prompt treatment.
On the need for vaccine production in the country, Sam-Wobo noted that the country can achieve it through quality research output that requires huge funding.
He explained that there are advanced technologies and techniques available that could fast-track vaccine production to prevent outbreaks of diseases that are endemic to the country and Africa.
“Quality research output is not cheap because it involves human, material and adequate resources to achieve optimal vaccine production.
“Vaccine production in the country is possible but we need both government and corporate support to come up with good vaccines that are effective,” he said.
NAN
