Monkey Pox: Suspected Cases Rise to 74 in 11 States

The rare deadly viral disease caused by Monkeypox that recently began in Bayelsa state has reportedly spread to 11 states with 74 suspected cases recorded, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole confirmed.

Adewole made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday during a brief meeting with the State House correspondents, in Abuja on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, Premium Times revealed.

The Federal Government, on October 11 confirmed that 33 suspected cases of the virus were recorded in seven states.

However, after samples of the suspected cases were sent for test at a WHO laboratory in Senegal, only three cases from Bayelsa tested positive.

The minister, who updated the Council on developments in respect of the outbreak, listed the affected States as Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers as well as the FCT, Abuja.

”The Council also received an update on the state of the public health of the nation.

We informed the council about the latest development in respect of the Monkey Pox virus outbreak. So far as of today, there are 74 suspected cases in 11 states of the country.

We have confirmed three from Bayelsa and 12 of the suspected cases from Bayelsa tested negative; four suspected cases from Lagos tested negative. We are still expecting the results of the other ones.

We are also doing a test at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Edeh, to really understand the genomics of this virus.

Even when they are negative, the laboratory attendant should be able to tell us what exactly they are,” he said.

In addition, the minister dismissed the assertion that the military was spreading Monkey Pox virus through vaccination.

He said that the military was never involved in any vaccination in the country, adding that any vaccination must involve state governments and the Federal Ministry of Health.

”It is also important to dispel the rumour circulating in the country that the military is vaccinating people and trying to spread Monkey Pox across the country.
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The military is not involved in any vaccination exercise. And I must educate Nigerians about how vaccination campaigns are done. The Federal Government will take the lead but we do not conduct a campaign without working with states.

So, there is no way we will do a campaign without working with the states,” he said.

The minister announced that his ministry was conducting vaccination in only three states of the federation, namely Borno, Kwara and Kogi.

He further stated that the cholera vaccination was being conducted in Borno while that of Yellow Fever vaccination was being carried out in Kwara and Kogi.

He stated that the ministry would soon start vaccination against measles while a nationwide vaccination against Yellow Fever would commence before the end of the year.

People who have been infected have been advised to come out of hiding to get proper care and limit further spread of the viral disease.

Proper hygiene like hand washing and limiting contact with dead animals has been advised.