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Lagos Launches Public Health Campaign on Mpox

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The Lagos State Government has unveiled a series of comprehensive public health initiatives.

These are in response to the growing global concern over the Mpox virus, particularly the newly identified Clade 1B variant.

During a media briefing held at Protea Hotel, Alausa Ikeja, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, outlined the state’s multipronged strategy to shield Lagos from this emerging threat.

Prof. Abayomi announced three significant milestones as part of Lagos State’s public health strategy against Mpox.

The first is a robust stakeholder engagement involving experts from various sectors to discuss Mpox and its management, both locally and globally.

Although Lagos has no active cases at present, however, the risk posed by the more aggressive Clade 1B variant remains a significant concern due to Lagos’s extensive travel connections.

The second milestone is the activation of an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) specifically dedicated to monitoring and addressing the Mpox outbreak, with a particular focus on the Clade 1B variant.

The third milestone is the launch of a statewide public health awareness campaign aimed at educating residents about the risks associated with Mpox and preventive measures they can take.

The Commissioner emphasized the current concern over the Clade 1B variant, which is rapidly spreading across Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has now reached neighboring countries like Cameroon, Rwanda, and Burundi.

“This variant is distinct from the indigenous Clade 2 variant, which has been detected sporadically in West Africa. Although Lagos has no active cases at present, however, the risk posed by the more aggressive Clade 1B variant remains a significant concern due to Lagos’s extensive travel connections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak in the DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the need for a coordinated global response”, he said.

Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos State is taking proactive steps, drawing on its experience with past health crises like Ebola, COVID-19, cholera, and Lassa fever. According to him, these measures aim to prevent the introduction of the Clade 1B variant into Lagos, which could have severe health and economic implications.

The Commissioner explained that Mpox, like smallpox and cowpox, is a zoonotic disease that initially spreads from animals to humans, particularly through rodents and monkeys.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact, with the Clade 1B variant showing a higher transmission rate, especially through sexual contact.

Prof. Abayomi warned that while there are currently no active Mpox cases in Lagos, the state must remain vigilant against the potential importation of this aggressive variant.

He disclosed that a mini-symposium on Mpox which was held before the media briefing, featured insights from global health experts, including representatives from WHO, UNICEF, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), LUTH and LASUTH. “These experts discussed the risks posed by the Clade 1B variant to Lagos and the steps needed to create a biological shield against the virus.

The collective goal is to ensure that Lagos is fully prepared to manage any potential outbreak and minimize its impact”, Prof. Abayomi said.

While noting that Lagos State’s high population density and extensive travel links make it particularly vulnerable to the rapid spread of contagious diseases, the Commissioner urged the public and healthcare providers to be vigilant and prepared to recognize, diagnose, and manage Mpox cases effectively.

“The activation of the EOC and the launch of the public awareness campaign are critical components of this strategy.

As part of the proactive measures, a comprehensive public health awareness campaign has been rolled out across Lagos. This campaign seeks to inform the public about the symptoms of Mpox, such as fever, joint pain, body aches, and distinctive rashes.

Residents are urged to report any suspicious symptoms to the nearest health facility for prompt evaluation”, he stated.

Prof. Abayomi  noted that Lagos State is also exploring vaccine options and has established local research teams to guide government policy on Mpox. These efforts aim to bolster the state’s preparedness for a possible outbreak and ensure a swift and effective response.

The Commissioner noted that despite the absence of active Mpox cases in Lagos, the state government is committed to maintaining a high level of preparedness. Prof. Abayomi expressed gratitude to all partners and collaborators for their continued support in these efforts, stressing the importance of collective action in safeguarding Lagos from the potential dangers of Mpox.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity, and Global Health in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam provided detailed information on the symptoms of the Clade 1B variant.
He highlighted the severity of the rashes caused by this variant, particularly those that appear in the genital area, which are more painful and pronounced than typical Mpox rashes.

Dr. Abdus-Salam emphasized the critical need for early identification and containment of Mpox cases to prevent the spread of the Clade 1B variant within Lagos. “The state’s public health systems are on high alert, ready to act swiftly to protect residents from this virulent strain”, he said.

Lagos State’s comprehensive and proactive approach to public health sets a precedent for other regions to follow.

The state’s ongoing efforts to prevent the importation and spread of Mpox, particularly the Clade 1B variant, demonstrate its commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its residents in the face of emerging global health threats.

Health

Chinese Scientists Developing Pregnancy Robots

Dr Zhang Qifeng, who founded the company IT Kaiwa Technology, said the robot will replicate the entire process from conception to delivery where the sperm and egg will be fertilised inside the robot then it will grow to term 9 months later.

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Scientists in China are developing the world’s first life size ‘pregnancy robot’ capable of carrying a baby to term and giving birth.

Dr Zhang Qifeng, who founded IT Kaiwa Technology, said the robot will replicate the entire process from conception to delivery where the sperm and egg will be fertilised inside the robot then it will grow to term 9 months later.

The robot aims to offer a pregnancy alternative for women who wish to avoid the burdens of pregnancy and the dramatic changes it makes to woman’s body.

The robot will be equipped with an artificial womb that receives nutrients through a hose.

It is expected to be released next year, with a selling price of around US $13,555.

Feminist activists have been strongly opposed to the use of artificial wombs because it could lead to the ‘end of women’.’

The real question now is, will men, once the artificial womb is perfected, want to keep women around? How would the baby feel the emotions and the bond between mother and child?

(Facebook)

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Health

Customs intercept expired pharmaceuticals at Apapa port

Adeniyi explained that on receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number, MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

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The Nigeria Customs Service seized seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medications, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing at the Apapa port.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, estimated that the duty paid values of the seizures made on Monday, arms included, was more than N10 billion.

Adeniyi explained that on receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number, MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The container was adjudged clean, but a secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado loud, that is, Canadian drugs.

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Health

Chikungunya: Could It Happen in Nigeria?

WHO’s Technical Lead for Arboviruses, Dr Diana Rojas-Alvarez said the warning was being sounded early to give countries a fighting chance.

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The World Health Organisation, WHO, on Monday warned of a global resurgence of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, following major outbreaks in La Réunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius since March.

However, Nigeria is not yet on the list of countries currently battling chikungunya outbreaks, but public health experts warn that the nation’s environmental conditions make it highly susceptible.

The outbreaks, WHO said, have now spread to South and East Asia, mirroring patterns seen 20 years ago when a wave that began in the Indian Ocean swept across continents, infecting nearly half a million people.

“This further spread is highly concerning because it follows a trajectory we’ve seen before-one that can quickly escalate into a global public health emergency,” WHO stated in its advisory.

The agency also confirmed that the virus continues to spread in endemic regions, with the Americas already reporting over 200,000 cases this year alone.

WHO said that about 5.6 billion people worldwide now live in areas suitable for the spread of Aedes mosquitoes-the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus which transmit chikungunya along with other diseases such as dengue and Zika.

Chikungunya has been detected or transmitted in 119 countries globally. In communities with little or no immunity, WHO warned that the disease can infect up to three-quarters of the population in a short period, severely straining healthcare systems.

WHO’s Technical Lead for Arboviruses, Dr Diana Rojas-Alvarez said the warning was being sounded early to give countries a fighting chance.

“We are raising the alarm early so countries can prepare early through surveillance, mosquito control, and public awareness-to avoid overwhelming health services,” she explained

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