Rwanda has commenced the first African administration of the mpox vaccine, with several hundred high-risk individuals vaccinated.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), told journalists on Thursday that the first 300 doses were administered on Tuesday.

He added that the exercise was carried out near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the “high-risk populations” are.

“This outbreak must be stopped very quickly,” Kaseya said.

“We also need this vaccine to start to be manufactured in Africa, and we are working strongly and closely with our manufacturers and also our partners to have these vaccines manufactured from one of the African countries.”

The Rwandan ministry of health also announced the vaccination campaign, saying it is targeted at “health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality workers, and other high-risk groups”.

The DR Congo has been the epicenter of the outbreak in Africa, with 2,912 new mpox cases and 14 deaths recorded in the last one week.

This has taken the tally of cases to 6,105 and 738 deaths since the beginning of the year.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Thursday, urged more countries to contribute to the response.

“International collaboration and support are needed to stop the spread of the virus,” he wrote on X.

The DR Congo is expected to start its vaccination campaign in the first week of October.

The Edo government has declared September 20 as a work-free day to enable workers and residents to travel to their voting areas ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The election is scheduled for September 21 across 18 LGAs in the state.

In a statement on Thursday, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the state government (SSG), assured that adequate security arrangements are in place for the conduct of the election.

“This is to enable workers and other electorates to travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state,” the statement reads.

“The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.”

The Lagos State Government on Thursday sealed Idera Market in Oshodi for contravening environmental laws of the state.

The closure was carried out by operatives of the Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) during a routine inspection aimed at enforcing environmental cleanliness in markets across the state.

The Corp Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole, explained that the inspection team discovered filth, unhygienic practices, and indiscriminate refuse dumping, prompting the decision to seal the market. He noted that the market will remain closed indefinitely until further notice.

The announcement, shared by Ajayi Lukman, Head of Public Affairs and Advocacy at LAGESC, was posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

”As part of intensified efforts aimed at ensuring adherence to environmental cleanliness across registered markets in the State, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday sealed off Idera Market situated at the Oshodi area of the State for contravening environmental laws.

“This disclosure was made by the Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) at the Agency’s Command Headquarters, Bolade-Oshodi.

“According to him, ‘our operatives stationed across the Oshodi division during routine market monitoring identified the filth, unhygienic practices and indiscriminate dumping of refuse around the Idera Market area which prompted us to seal off the market until further notice,’’ the statement read in part.

The statement noted that Cole expressed concern over the poor hygiene at the market, warning that it could lead to illness and disease outbreaks among vendors and buyers. He emphasized the need for markets to adopt proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of diseases.

Cole also highlighted that the market leadership failed to provide a valid waste collection contract, leading to the accumulation of refuse. He issued a stern warning to all markets in the state, stressing that KAI operatives are monitoring for infractions, and any non-compliant market will be sealed until it meets hygiene standards.