Abia Records MPox Case, Sets Up Treatment Centre

Abia State has recorded one case of Mpox just as the government has set up treatment centre for the disease at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, at a press briefing after the state’s weekly Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, the capital, said the case was recorded at Isiala Ngwa local government area of the state.

“Maybe more centres as the cases break up will be opened around the state, but we don’t hope that there will be further spread of the disease in the state.

“The good news is that there is no fatality yet. And out of the 13 recorded suspected cases, only one tested positive, nine negative, while the remaining two are awaiting classification,” he noted.

Kanu, who said the meeting was chaired by Governor Alex Otti, urged residents of the state “to maintain good personal hygiene habit and to observe social distancing where there are suspected cases”.

Speaking also, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Agozi Azodo, stressed that regular personal hygiene is the best way to be protected from contracting the disease.

Azodo, therefore, urged the residents to minimise contact with animals, avoid self-medication, and to report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest health facility.