Mpox: Shun ‘Bush Meat’ Consumption, Avoid Contact With Dead Animals, Nigerians Warned

Nigerians have been warned against the consumption of undercooked bush meat, to save them from contacting the deadly Mpox virus.

They were also advised to avoid contact with dead animals to reduce the possibility of contacting the Mpox virus.

The president of the National Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH) branch in Kwara State, Dr Yusuf Muhammed, gave the advice while speaking with LEADERSHIP in Ilorin.

Muhammed explained that Mpox is a zoonotic infection that affects animals and can be transferred to humans.

“Mpox is not entirely new, but at some points new strains commonly appear, and in recent times, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent warning that the strain that is currently detected is a new one.

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“The fear is that the antibody that humans have may not be able to protect against it like the strain that occurred before. This poses significant threat to people and everybody should be on the lookout,” he said.

He described monkey pox as a viral disease related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus.

Muhammed said that the initial symptoms were typically flu-like, including fever, chills, exhaustion, headache and muscle weakness, often followed by a painful or itchy rash with raised lesions that scab over.

He, however, advised Nigerians not to panic, but to report suspected cases to the nearest health facilities where proper investigation and contact tracing can be done.