Tension in Akwa Ibom as govt confirms five cases of monkey pox

There is palpable tension in Akwa Ibom state as the government confirm that it has recorded five cases of monkey pox in some local government areas in the state . 

It was gathered that a total of 30 samples were collected for diagnosis where four out of the five cases were confirmed with three males and a female between the age of two, four, 12 and 41 years respectively. 

 Disease surveillance and notification officer Samuel Etuk of the state ministry of health had earlier announced the confirmation of the four cases and later confirmed the fifth case .

 Etuk, confirmed the first four cases during the Media Review Meeting organized by the Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) in collaboration with the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme(STBLCP), held in Uyo, the state capital. 

On a WhatsApp group, he announced the confirmation of the additional new case 

"Good morning everyone. We have another positive case of Mpox bringing the tally to 5 confirmed cases in the State, " he said. 

He said contact tracing for any transmission was conducted while the affected persons had been placed on isolation.

He disclosed that 10 community informants had been engaged per ward in the state to work in catchment areas to report to the health facility focal person who in turn would forward same to the local government disease surveillance and notification officers for an onward report to the state Ministry of Health.

Mpox spread from animal to animal and called, zoonotic while man to man is transmitted directly or indirectly through urine,faces, blood,sexual contact, broken skin,eyes nose,mouth, contact with skin lesions and oral secretions.

The disease symptom lasts 5-21 days, incubation period. and include headache, swollen lymph,nodes, fever, back and muscle pain, lack of energy, rashes beginning on face to other parts such as palms, soles and feet,etc.

Preventive measures include; avoiding contact with animals where Mpox is confirmed from sick or dead ones, avoiding contact with persons infected, isolation of infected animals. 

Others include practicing of hand washing with soap, sanitizing of hand, meat cooking before consumption , and use of appropriate protective clothing and gloves while handling sick animals.

He advised the public to report suspected cases at the nearest health facility or call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) 

On August 14,2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Global Public Health Emergency of international concern in Africa after reviewing available data.