Avoid Unprotected Sex, Multiple Partners, Kissing, and Hugging – Nigerian Air Force Warns Personnel About Mpox Virus | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Nigerian Air Force Issues Health Advisory to Personnel Amid Mpox Virus Outbreak | #NwokeukwuMascot

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has issued a stringent health advisory to its personnel, warning them against unprotected sex, engaging with multiple sexual partners, and other close-contact behaviors, in light of the rising threat posed by the Mpox virus. 

The directive, disseminated through an official military signal dated August 17, underscores the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and exercising caution to prevent the spread of the virus.

The advisory follows the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Mpox outbreak in certain regions of Africa as a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO noted that at least 450 individuals succumbed to the virus during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the disease now spreading to parts of Central and East Africa, as well as reaching Sweden. 

The virus, which can be transmitted through close physical contact such as touching, kissing, or sexual intercourse, as well as via contaminated materials like clothing and needles, has prompted global health authorities to issue heightened warnings.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently reported 39 confirmed cases of Mpox across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory since the beginning of 2024, though no fatalities have been recorded. The affected states include Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ebonyi.

The signal reads: “TEXT: OUTBREAK OF NEW STRAIN OF M-POX VIRUS PD AFRICA CDC AND WHO HAS DECLARED M-POX DISEASE AS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTL CONCERN PD THIS IS DUE TO EMERGENCE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE STRAIN OF M-POX VIRUS IN CAR cMM DRC AND BURUNDI PD ALSO CMM NCDC HAS CFM 39 CASES OF M-POX DISEASE IN BAYELSA crv1M CROSS RIVER CMM OGUN CMM LAGOS CMM ONDO AND EBONYI STATES PD ACCDLY CMM EYE AM DIR TO RESPECTFULLY REQ ALL PERS TO TAKE THE FOL PREV MEASURES AGAINST THE DISEASE CLN ALPHA REG HAND HYG BRAVO AVOID UNPROTECTED SEX AND MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS CHARLIE MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARD OF HYG DELTA NEVER KISS CMM HUG OR HAVE SEX WITH SOMEONE WITH RASH ILLNESS ECHO AVOID CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS GOLF AVOID EATING BUSH MEAT FOXTROT RPT TO A NEARBY HOSP FOR ANY SIGN OF FEVER AND RASHES PD NAF MED UNITS ARE TO EDUCATE PERS AND FAMILY ON THE DISEASE AND MAINTAIN SURVEILLANCE PD GRATEFUL]//“

The NAF’s proactive approach reflects a broader effort to safeguard the health of its personnel and prevent the spread of Mpox within its ranks and the wider community.