The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has noted that all international passengers arriving into the country at the Lagos and Abuja stations are to complete the health declaration form over the monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak from 11 August on a designated website.

To prevent the disease from coming into Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (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.”

Also according to a travel advisory by British Airways to its passengers, the airline revealed, “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”, it read.

According to the health ministry, “a paper-based version will be provided on arrival in Nigeria for passengers unable to fill out the form online”.

In a report recently released, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) revealed that Mpox cases have risen by 160 per cent on the continent in 2024 compared with the 2023 record.

During a recent webinar, the Director General of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, said the African continent is poised to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) as the Mpox spread across many countries.

Kaseya said the declaration of the PHECS would be based on guidance from health experts and political leaders across Africa to ensure a unified and effective approach to the outbreak.

He said the Africa CDC had been at the forefront of monitoring and responding to the Mpox outbreak, which has caused significant concern due to its rapid spread and the rising number of fatalities.

As of 28 July, a total of 14,250 cases (2,745 confirmed; 11,505 suspected) and 456 deaths with a case fatality rate [CFR] of 3.2 per cent have been recorded in 10 African nations, including Nigeria.