NCDC Yet To Release Monkeypox Health Guidelines For Airlines, Airports
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has not yet given airlines and airports any health guidelines or protocols over the outbreak of monkeypox.
One of the Daily Sun’s sources who is within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said that the agency has not yet received any directive on what the monkeypox health protocol would be from the NCDC and as such, cannot give any directives to airlines.
Last Monday, the World Health Organisation stated that it does not believe that the monkeypox outbreak outside Africa will lead to a pandemic and added that it remains unclear if infected people who are not displaying symptoms can transmit the disease.
WHO is currently considering whether the outbreak should be assessed as a “potential public health emergency of international concern” or PHEIC. This sort of declaration, as was done for COVID-19 and Ebola, would help accelerate research and funding to contain the disease.
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Susan Akporiaye, the president of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), told the Daily Sun that so far, the outbreak is not affecting flights as travel agents have not received any travel guidelines from airlines.
“The monkeypox outbreak is not affecting flights because so far, there has been no official communication either by any airline or the World Health Organisation on the issue which means the industry hasn’t been affected.”
Regarding the issue as to whether the Federal Government has adjusted the covid guidelines for travel, Akporiaye said that: “The covid protocol for passengers coming into Nigeria has not changed and it is still the same cost for those that have not been vaccinated. You would require a covid test before you can come in and you would still need to require a day one and day two test. It is only those who are fully vaccinated that do not need to do the test, you just fill in your record locator and travel permit; that is all.
“For those travelling outside, when you are leaving Nigeria, it is the covid protocol of the country you are going to that you would abide by. We are hoping that the Federal Government does something about the covid protocol. The UK has lifted the Covid rules for everyone whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, US, Canada, Nigeria and some other countries have not lifted for non-vaccinated.”
SOURCE: Daily Sun
