Monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos. Ther...
Monkey pox, which started with an index
case in Bayelsa on September 22, has
spread to six other states, including
Lagos. There are 31 cases, the National
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said
yesterday.
case in Bayelsa on September 22, has
spread to six other states, including
Lagos. There are 31 cases, the National
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said
yesterday.
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| Monkey pox Jomo Pictures jomotv |
NCDC National Coordinator/Chief
Executive Officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu
listed the states as Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti,
Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Cross River.
He said samples had been collected
from
each suspected case for laboratory
confirmation. Said Ihekweazu: “It is
unlikely that many of the suspected
cases are actually monkey pox, but all
are
being investigated.”
He said all the suspected cases were
receiving medical care and the patients
improving clinically in their various
states. Ihekweazu said the centre had
activated an Emergency Operation
Centre
(EOC) to coordinate the outbreak
investigation and response across the
affected states.
“The EOC is currently supporting state
ministries of Health in their response to
the outbreak through active case finding,
epidemiological investigation and
contact
tracing.
Measures have been put in place to
ensure effective sample collection and
testing to enable laboratory
confirmation.
Risk communication activities have been
heightened to advise the public on
preventive measures. All 36 states and
the FCT have been notified for
preparedness,” he explained.
The Lagos State Government confirmed
yesterday that it had recorded two
suspected cases and appealed to
residents to remain calm and vigilant.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris
told reporters that the two suspected
cases were being investigated.
“Though no confirmed case has been
recorded, there is need to sensitise
members of the public and provide
adequate information on measures for
prevention and control of the disease in
line with the policy of the state
government,” he said.
Idris said the two suspected cases were
recorded in a private hospital which he
did not name. He added that one of the
suspected cases just came from Bayelsa
State and ate bush meat.
Idris said the two suspected cases had
been quarantined in their various houses
pending the result of the investigation.
The commissioner said in the wake of
this outbreak, the government was
reiterating the need for members of the
public to observe and maintain a high
standard of personal and environmental
hygiene at all times as part of the
precautionary measures to prevent the
spread of the disease to the State.
He urged the public to be vigilant and
report any suspected case of the disease
to the nearest public health facility or the
Directorate of Disease Control in the
Ministry of Health.
“Also, health workers are advised to
practise universal safety precautions in
the management of suspected or
confirmed cases, wear appropriate
Personal Protective Equipment when
attending to cases, wash hands after
each contact with patient or
contaminated materials while
surveillance system must be
strengthened.
“The state government has mobilised the
Disease Surveillance Officers in the 57
LGAs and LCDAs in the state and health
workers in both public and private health
facilities have been placed on high alert,”
Idris said.
I
dris called on residents to remain calm
and go about their businesses without
fear as the government had put in place
adequate measures to effectively
prevent
and control the spread of the infection to
the state.
dris called on residents to remain calm
and go about their businesses without
fear as the government had put in place
adequate measures to effectively
prevent
and control the spread of the infection to
the state.
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