On Thursday, August 15, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced that the country had recorded 39 confirmed cases of mpox across 33 states since the beginning of 2024, with no reported deaths.
This announcement followed the World Health Organization’s declaration of mpox as a global health emergency, citing the virus’s spread across Africa. A day earlier, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared mpox a public health emergency.
With rising concerns about the spread of the disease, here are the steps recommended by the WHO and CDC to protect yourself against mpox.
First, know the symptoms:
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash that looks like blisters or sores
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
Steps to protect yourself against mpox
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly
Use soap and water to scrub your hands as often as possible.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
After washing your hands, take extra precautions by using hand sanitiser. Choose an alcohol-based sanitizer or hand rub.
Avoid close contact with anyone who has mpox
This helps prevent the further spread of the disease and also protects you.
Avoid contact with objects and materials used by a person with mpox
Don’t share utensils or cups with someone who has mpox. Also, avoid sharing or touching an infected person’s bedding, towels, and clothing.
Clean and disinfect your home
If you or someone you live with has the virus, clean the house frequently. Use alcohol-based cleaning products and wet cleaning methods such as disinfectant wipes, sprays, and mopping.
Practice isolation
If you have mpox, isolate yourself from others until all your lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has formed underneath. If you suspect you have the virus, isolate yourself and avoid contact with others until you’ve been evaluated and tested.
Cook your meals properly
Ensure that foods containing animal parts or meat are cooked thoroughly before consumption.
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