In response to growing global concerns surrounding the Mpox virus, particularly the newly identified Clade 1B variant, the Lagos State Government has announced a series of robust public health measures aimed at protecting the state from this emerging threat.
The new initiatives were unveiled on August 27, 2024, during a media briefing at the Protea Hotel in Alausa Ikeja, where Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, outlined the government’s comprehensive strategy.
Prof. Abayomi emphasized three key components of the state’s approach: engagement with stakeholders across various sectors, the establishment of a specialized Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to monitor and manage the outbreak, and the launch of a statewide public health awareness campaign.
“These initiatives are designed to prevent the introduction of the Clade 1B variant into Lagos, which is currently spreading rapidly in Central Africa,” said Prof. Abayomi.
He highlighted the distinct nature of the Clade 1B variant compared to the indigenous Clade 2 variant, which has been detected sporadically in West Africa. “Although Lagos has no active cases at present, the risk posed by the more aggressive Clade 1B variant remains a significant concern due to Lagos’s extensive travel connections,” he added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, underscoring the need for coordinated action. Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos State’s previous experience with health crises such as Ebola and COVID-19 has prepared the state to handle potential health and economic impacts of the virus.
Mpox, a zoonotic disease similar to smallpox and cowpox, initially spreads from animals to humans. The Clade 1B variant, however, exhibits a higher transmission rate, particularly through sexual contact, according to Prof. Abayomi.
Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity, and Global Health in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, also addressed the media, providing detailed information on the symptoms associated with the Clade 1B variant. “The rashes, especially in the genital area, are more painful and pronounced than typical Mpox rashes,” said Dr. Abdus-Salam, emphasizing the importance of early identification and containment of cases.
