A public health expert, Professor Simeon Cadmus, had said that the risk of Mpox was five times higher among people who had not received smallpox vaccination, and the incidence of the infection had increased by 20 times since the 1980s.
Cadmus, a professor of veterinary public health and preventive medicine at the University of Ibadan, made this disclosure at the opening ceremony and scientific conference of Oyo State NMA’s Physician’s Week with the subtheme “Mitigating the Impart of Infectious Diseases: Addressing the M-Pox Outbreak and Beyond.”
Professor Cadmus stated that the smallpox vaccination provides significant cross protection against Mpox, but its cessation following the eradication of smallpox led to a decrease in immunity in the general population, particularly among younger generations who have never been vaccinated, and an outburst of Mpox outbreaks.
“The discontinuation of smallpox vaccination has led to the concerns from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Mpox might fill smallpox’s epidemiological niche,” he added.
He, however, declared that although the severity of the disease during the global outbreak has generally been mild, it cannot be assumed that this will be the case for future outbreaks.
Cadmus, also the lead of the Damien Foundation Genomics and Microbacteria Research and Training Centre, declared that the latest Mpox outbreaks in Nigeria and, by extension, in Africa require urgent collaborative effects to address the evolving epidemiology and transmission dynamics of the disease.
“The Mpox outbreak served as a powerful reminder of the challenges and responsibilities we face in managing infectious diseases. To mitigate the impact of future outbreaks, several critical strategies must be pursued: strengthening early detection systems, investing in vaccine and therapeutic research, and prioritising equitable healthcare access.
“A coordinated international approach is essential for building rapid response capabilities and ensuring that all populations, regardless of resources or geography, receive timely and effective healthcare. Moving forward, a proactive stance focused on global cooperation, robust healthcare infrastructure, and public education will be pivotal in safeguarding public health against infectious diseases,” he said.
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The Chief Executive Officer of Molly Specialist Hospital and chairman at the occasion, Dr. Omolara Smith, said amid increasing needs and a worldwide undersupply of healthcare professionals, the call for fair reimbursement has never been so imperative and resonates with all doctors, both in the public and private health sectors, and regardless of age.
According to her, “excellence celebrated will result in excellence consistently practiced.” Proper remuneration may look like a financial issue, but it actually means more. It recognises the hours, expertise, and risks our physicians and healthcare workers put in and seek to ensure parity, which itself will aid equity and access to all, including currently undeserved communities.”
On monkey pox, she said doctors need to guide themselves for future public health threats, adding that the combined knowledge and readiness are critical for preparedness for any new type of biological warfare that looms globally.
Earlier, Chairman of the Oyo State Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Happy Adedapo, said the stemming case of Mpox is of great importance, saying a repeated and continuous engagement between the researchers, policymakers, and the community is important to avoid an epidemic of any disease.
“NMA is going to actually take a step. We will definitely partner with government and other relevant stakeholders to increase public awareness of Mpox via the native languages of the people,” he added.