Anxiety As Akwa Ibom Records 5 Mpox Cases

Akwa Ibom State Government has warned residents to be wary as Mpox the state records five incidences.

Giving an update on the outbreak of Mpox on Friday, the State Government disclosed that five cases have been reported in some local government areas.

A total of 30 samples were collected for diagnosis where the initial four cases were confirmed comprising three males and a female, ages 2, 4, 12 and 41.

Confirming the incident, an official in charge of the disease surveillance and notification at the state Ministry of Health, Samuel Etuk, who had earlier announced the four cases, said the number has increased to five.

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

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“We have another positive case of Mpox bringing the tally to five confirmed cases in the state,” he stated, adding that contact – tracing for any transmission was conducted while the affected persons have been placed on isolation.

He explained that 10 community informants had been engaged in each of the 368 political wards to work in catchment areas, reporting to the health facility focal persons who in turn would forward same to the local government disease surveillance and notification officers for onward report to the health ministry.

Etuk urged the people to be vigilant, explaining that mpox can spread from animal to animal, through what he called zoonotic process, while man-to-man transmission can be made directly or indirectly through contact with urine, faeces, blood, sexual contact, broken skin, eyes, nose, mouth, contact with skin lesions and oral secretions.

The disease symptoms, he added lasts between five to 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, among others.

The preventive measures, he said included avoiding contact with animals where mpox is confirmed, sick or dead ones, avoiding contact with infected persons and isolation of infected animals.

Others are practicing of frequent hand-washing with soap, sanitising of hand, thoroughly cooking meat 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).

Etuk recalled that on August 14, 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency of international concern in Africa after reviewing available data.