After a release on the internet by the Chief of Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Force claiming that there are four US-controlled biological laboratories operating in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC has denied the report of monkeypox generation, adding that the claim by the European country is not backed by any evidence.
In a statement released by the disease control agency and signed by its Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa , the activities in Nigerian public health laboratories are for diagnostic purposes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC reported 21 cases from 9 states (Adamawa, Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, FCT, Kano, Imo, and Rivers) in the last five months, while the Federal Government also rolled out strict measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
To this end,the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar in a statement urged Nigerians to avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with Monkey Pox at home and at workplaces. He said Hunters and dealers of “Bushmeat” must desist from the practice forthwith to prevent any possibility of “SPILLOVER” of the pathogen in Nigeria.
Similarly, In efforts to curb the spread of the disease, the permanent secretary Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye says the Ministry has sent information to hospitals across the state, instructing them to allocate areas for isolation
It is recalled that the United States government denied connection to the recent outbreak of monkeypox in Nigeria, adding that the government has continued to support Nigeria health authorities with technical assistance and funding to tackle disease outbreaks such as COIVD-19 and monkeypox, among others.
Join our twitter community :