As many as thirty-one cases of the monkey pox disease have now been recorded in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun and other states across Nigeria. It has been revealed that monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos.
According to Reporters, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday said there are 31 cases. 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:
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 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.
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.
“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 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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