Health declaration for inbound air passengers won’t halt spread, say epidemiologists
Public health experts have expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s directive mandating international travellers to fill out a health declaration form at only two airports in Nigeria. The directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, aims to prevent the spread of a new mpox strain from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, epidemiologists argue that this measure is insufficient to halt the importation of dangerous strains into the country. They contend that monitoring and screening procedures must be intensified at all entry points in Nigeria, including airports in Port Harcourt and Kano, as well as various land borders.
While the country has recorded 39 cases of mpox since February, experts warn that overlooking travellers entering through other points of entry could pose a potential risk. They emphasize that a more comprehensive approach is necessary to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of deadly mpox variants.
As the health declaration form becomes mandatory for international passengers arriving at Abuja and Lagos airports starting August 11, the Federal Government is urged to reevaluate its strategies and ensure that all possible routes of transmission are adequately addressed.
