Russia’s request to investigate US role in Nigeria “monkey pox” outbreak.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has called for an investigation into the activities of US biological laboratories in Nigeria and the outbreak of monkey pox in the country.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has called for an investigation into the activities of four biological laboratories in Nigeria, where it believes monkey pox originated.
“According to a report released by the World Health Organization, the West African side of monkey pox started in Nigeria, where the United States has a biological infrastructure,” said Oligor Krylov, commander of the Russian Armed Forces Chemical and Biological Attack Support Force.
There are reportedly at least four Washington-affiliated biological laboratories in Nigeria.
The Russian official called on the World Health Organization to investigate the activities of US laboratories in Abuja, Vazaria and Valgos, Nigeria, and to make the results known to the international community.
Cases of smallpox have reportedly been reported only in people who have traveled to Central and West Africa. But over the past week, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United States, Sweden and Canada have reported cases of the disease, mostly among young men who have not traveled to Africa.
The smallpox virus usually causes fever, chills, skin rashes, and lesions on the face or genitals. The World Health Organization estimates that the disease is fatal to one in 10 people, but smallpox vaccines are protective and some antiviral drugs are being developed.
