Just in: Akwa Ibom records 4 cases of monkeypox

By, Maxwell Nwafor, Akwa-ibom

Akwa Ibom State has recorded four confirmed cases of Monkeypox from January to August 2024.

The Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer,(DSNO) Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, Samuel S. Etuk disclosed this on wednesday, during the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria’s Media Partnership Strengthening and Review Meeting in Uyo, the state capital.

Etuk stated that out of the four cases, two came from Uyo, one from Nsit Ubium while the other one from ONNA local government areas of the state noting that their age brackets fall within 2, 4 and 15 of three males and one female.

He said Monkey pox is a viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. disease of animals transmitted from animals to humans) and does not have any specific treatment at the moment.

He enumerated the symptoms of Monkeypox to include: fever, headache, body aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes (glands) and rashes and encouraged people to avoid contact with animals that could harbour the virus including sick or dead animals in areas where the virus has been confirmed, engage in regular washing of hands with soap and running water as well as adopt a general hygiene attitude.

Etuk who spoke on the “Role of the Media in Monkeypox Public Health Emergency Response,” said the media have the onus of giving consistent and realtime information about any disease outbreak vis a vis Monkey pox even as commended them for their contributions towards Social and Behavior Change in the State.

He said “In Akwa Ibom, we have four confirmed cases and those cases have been managed so far, so we have some preventive measures, we should carry out hand washing exercise regularly, we are supposed to go to hospital when we have signs and symptoms, we should not have self medications.

“The Monkeypox virus can spread both from animal to human and from human to human. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, skin or mucosal lesions of infected animals.

“There is no specific treatment of the virus, so people should be cautious of physical contact and maintain personal hygiene. Journalists should enlighten the public on our behalf because their voices can reach where ours cannot.” Etuk stated.

In her remarks, the Program Officer, Social and Behaviour Change, BA-N, Nkoyo Umoh charged the media to amplify the message on the need for adherence to proven infection prevention and control measures as spelt out.

Umoh noted that through effective media engagements, the perceptions and behaviour of the people towards Monkeypox disease would be changed for the better.