Nigeria mandates health form for incoming air passengers 

Nigeria’s government has directed air passengers coming into the country to fill out a health declaration form as part of measures against the Mpox outbreak and other infectious diseases.

According to The Vanguard, the mpox strain known as Clade Ib, which has been rapidly spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since September, is both more deadly and more easily transmitted than earlier strains. This strain, transmitted from person to person, causes widespread skin rashes compared to other strains that typically affect only the mouth, face, and genitals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Sunday that it is considering forming an expert committee to determine whether to declare an international emergency, similar to the global response in 2022. As of August 3, the Africa CDC reported 14,479 confirmed and suspected cases of this strain in DRC, with 455 deaths, reflecting a mortality rate of about three percent. However, researchers indicate that the mortality rate could reach up to 10 percent among children. The Congolese government has recognized a significant rise in cases over the past month.