The Association of Resident Doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH) has issued a warning about the dangers of consuming undercooked bush meat, advising against it to prevent the spread of the deadly M-pox virus.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ilorin, Dr. Yusuf Muhammed, the President of ARD-UITH, emphasized the importance of avoiding contact with dead animals to reduce the risk of infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the M-pox outbreak in certain regions of Africa a public health emergency of international concern. The initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed at least 450 lives, and the disease has since spread to parts of Central and East Africa, Pakistan, and Sweden.
M-pox, an infectious viral disease affecting humans and other animals, is caused by the Orthopoxvirus Monkeypox, a zoonotic virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus. Symptoms of M-pox include sore throat, an itchy or painful rash, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.
According to the WHO, the disease can be transmitted through close contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual activity, as well as through contaminated materials like bed sheets, clothing, and needles.
Dr. Muhammed further explained that while M-pox is not entirely new, new strains occasionally emerge. Recently, WHO issued a warning about a newly detected strain currently in circulation.
