Ebonyi records first monkeypox case

Ebonyi State government, yesterday, said the state has recorded its first case of monkeypox.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki on the development, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, said the affected person, a 32-year-old man, who hails from Ugwulangwu Onicha Local Council, was receiving treatment at the state isolation centre.

The Commissioner added that the affected person resides in Abakaliki, but has traveled to Rivers State, returned to Ebonyi on July 7, 2022, and is reported to have had a history of fever, maculopapular rash, sore throat, headache and weakness of the body.

According to Umezurike, a presumptive diagnosis of Monkeypox was made to rule out Smallpox, adding that a sample was collected and sent to the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) national reference laboratory and the result came out positive for monkey pox virus.

Umezurike stressed that the index case is responding to treatment and seven contacts have been identified, and they are currently being followed up.

He further said that Ebonyi has recorded a total of 32 suspected cases with only one confirmed, noting that case fatality rate is still zero as there have been no record of any death in both suspected and confirmed cases in the state.

While advising Ebonyians to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, he told them to avoid self-medication and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.

He noted that public health measures are to be strictly adhered to, stressing that treatment is free and being supported by state government.

He said it can also be transmitted from person to person and transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, contact with infected persons or contaminated materials.

“Control measures include; isolation of confirmed cases, strict adherence to universal precautions, especially frequent hand-washing with soap and water, use of face mask, maintaining social distance from suspected and confirmed cases, avoid contact with rodent, meat should be properly cooked before consumption and use of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers,” he said.