The Nasarawa State Government says it has confirmed six cases of the monkeypox outbreak in two Local Government Areas of the state, Lafia and Keffi.
Pharm. Ahmed Yahaya, the State Commissioner for Health disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Lafia.
The commissioner explained that two cases were first reported in Keffi Local government in May and another four cases reported in Lafia.
According to him, health care workers in the state have been sensitised and trained on the occurrence of the disease, noting that drugs and essential commodities have been procured and treatment obtained in all general hospitals and the federal medical centre Keffi.
He said an emergency operations centre for monkeypox has been activated while an incident manager has also been appointed, adding that all necessary measures have been put in place in strategic areas to fight against the spread of the disease in the state.
“It is noteworthy that the disease can be transmitted through direct contact with an infectious rash, scabs, such as kissing body fluids of infected persons, respiratory secretions, face to face prolonged contact.
“Intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling or having sex with are some of the issues to be avoided”, the commissioner said.
MonkeyPox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridaefamily.
Yayaha said the monkeypox virus lasts for 2 to 4 weeks and is characterised by fever, headache, muscle pains, and swollen lymph nodes, adding that the invitation period ranges from 5-21 days and that children and pregnant women are more vulnerable to contracting the disease.
Pharmacist Ahmed advised the people to report suspected symptoms to the nearest medical facilities in the state.
Credit: Daily Sun