US denies involvement, saying such reports are fabrication
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
America has dismissed as “pure fabrication” posts on social media claiming there are “U.S.-controlled laboratories” in Nigeria helping to spread monkeypox in which Africa’s most populous nation has confirmed one death so far.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed in its latest report that there have been sporadic cases of the disease since January, with six cases and one death in May.
That brings the total to 21 cases and one death in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as of 29 May, the NCDC said.
The US Consulate Lagos flagged “misleading posts on social media” which “wrongly speculate on the origin of the current global outbreak of monkeypox disease” and asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to investigate non-existent “U.S.-controlled laboratories” in Nigeria.
“Such reports are pure fabrication. There is zero merit to any allegations regarding the use of U.S.-assisted Nigerian laboratories in the spread of monkeypox. Furthermore, there are no ‘U.S.-controlled’ laboratories in Nigeria,” the Consulate said in a statement.
“These falsehoods detract from the work that the United States, in close coordination with Nigerian and multilateral partners, accomplish together on public health, including in disease surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and control.
“The collaborative work between Nigeria and the US has provided opportunities for technical assistance in capacity building, equipment, commodities/consumables, and funding to critical public health program, hospitals and laboratories.
“All of this contributes greatly to the prevention and amelioration of global disease outbreaks.”
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Monkeypox not a new disease
The US Consulate explained that monkeypox is not a new disease, nor is it unique to Nigeria or West Africa, having first been diagnosed in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“As we work together to contain its spread, exported cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, United States, and other parts of the world.
“The United States government continues to lend its support and work closely with the government of Nigeria in responding to the outbreak.”
Collaborative interventions
“Through our collaborative interventions, U.S. government agencies working in Nigeria (including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Program) and their implementing partners have supported both national and state laboratories with technical assistance and funding.
“These laboratories are Nigerian, and U.S. support enables them to provide essential services for the public good and the health of Nigeria’s citizens,” the statement added.
“Especially important, our support to laboratories across the country extends to quality improvements that ensure they have appropriate levels of biosafety and biosecurity requirements in place.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian government on the ongoing global monkeypox and COVID-19 outbreaks and intensify support to Nigeria in other areas on which we have proudly partnered over the years, such as HIV epidemic control, tuberculosis eradication, malaria elimination, prevention of vaccine-preventable disease, and enhancing food and nutrition.”
