Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Mohammad Abubakar urged hunters and dealers of bush meat to stop the business.  It is to prevent spread of monkeypox pathogen (organism causing disease to its host).

He said following the report of 21 monkeypox cases and one death, the ministry through the department of veterinary and pest control services is actively collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders to ensure the situation is contained and brought under control.

He said in in view of this, the ministry advises people to avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with monkeypox at home and at workplaces.

“Hunters and dealers of “bushmeat” must desist from the practice forthwith to prevent any possibility of “SPILLOVER” of the pathogen in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“Transport of wild animals and their products within and across the borders should be suspended/restricted.

“All operators of Zoos, Parks, Conservation and Recreational centers keeping non-human primates in their domains must ensure strict compliance with their biosecurity protocols aimed at preventing their contacts with humans.

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“All Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals and other Veterinary Health Institutions across the country must ensure vigilance so as to be able to pick possible signs and symptoms of Monkey Pox in non-human primate (NHP) patients.

“We must also ensure regular handwashing using strong disinfectant anytime we handle NHP and rodents in our various locations.

“We must also discourage the act of consumption, trade and keeping of NHP as well as rodents as pets in our homes.”

Abubakar also advised the public to report any pox-like lesions seen on humans or animals to the nearest human or veterinary clinics respectively.

Monkeypox is a re-emerging zoonotic infection, caused by the monkeypox virus, that occurs mostly in West and Central Africa.The natural reservoir of monkeypox remains unknown. However, African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) may harbor the virus and infect people.

In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not.

Monkeypox virus can spread when a person comes into contact with the virus from an infected animal, infected person, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus can also cross the placenta from the mother to her fetus. Monkeypox virus may spread from animals to people through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, by handling wild game, or through the use of products made from infected animals.