Akwa Ibom Announces 18 Suspected Cases Of Monkey Pox, Activates Control Measures

Akwa Ibom health authorities have activated its infectious diseases control system to curtail what it announced on Friday as an outbreak of Monkey Pox virus.

18 suspected cases are now under observation in three communities of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong who made the disclosure at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, however, said that only one of the 18 suspected cases had been confirmed to be Monkey Pox.

He, however, reeled out measures being taken by the ministry to check the spread of the disease as he enjoined the citizenry on their obligations to prevent the spread of the virus.

“In Nigeria, as at October 24, 93 suspected cases have been reported; 43 cases were confirmed, only one death was reported, and that was in Lagos State.

“Although ten states were affected, Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom , Rivers , Imo, Enugu and Anambra states with a total number of 93 cases in the country, 59% were from two states: Delta, (28%), and Lagos (26%).

“Since the beginning of the outbreak in 2017, 176 confirmed cases were reported and nine deaths before this year’s outbreak.

“Monkey pox is a rare viral zoonotic infection, that is, an infection transmitted from animals to humans; that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical forests. It is caused by monkey pox viruses which also cause small pox and cow pox.

“Case fatality in outbreak has been between 1% and 10%, with most deaths occurring in younger age groups,”

The commissioner urged the public to raise their standard of public hygiene and avoid the eating of diseased animals which he said could have fallen down through the disease.

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