The federal government has banned the sale and consumption of bushmeat in a bid to control the spread of monkeypox disease.
Dr. Mohammad Abubakar the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development directed hunters and dealers of bushmeat in the country to stop business on Tuesday 31 May 2022.
Abubakar also urged Nigerians to avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with monkeypox.
According to the reports, Dr. Abubakar in a statement called on Veterinary epidemiology officers, field surveillance agents, and veterinarians to step up their surveillance activities aimed at picking any possible case of Monkey Pox in animals.
“Following the recent confirmation of Monkeypox (MP) resurgence in Nigeria on May 29, 2022, involving 21 persons, by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), where it was said to have led to the death of one person with co-morbidity, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD), through the Department of Veterinary & Pest Control Services, is collaborating with NCDC and stakeholders in the One Health Team to ensure the situation is contained and brought under control.
“People must 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 to prevent any possibility of ‘spillover’ of the pathogen in Nigeria.
“Transport of wild animals and their products within and across borders should be suspended/restricted
“Silos, stores, and other agricultural storage facilities must institute active rodent control measures to prevent contacts and possible contamination of Monkeypox virus with foodstuff.
“Operators of zoos, parks, conservation and recreational centers keeping non-human primates in their domains must ensure strict compliance with biosecurity protocols to prevent contact with humans.
“Veterinary clinics, veterinary teaching hospitals, and veterinary health institutions across the country must ensure vigilance to pick up possible signs and symptoms of Monkeypox in non-human primate (NHP) patients.
“We must also ensure regular handwashing using strong disinfectant anytime we handle NHP and rodents,” the statement read.
