MONKEYPOX: EPIDEMIOLOGIST TASKS ABIA RESIDENTS ON STRICT ADHERENCE TO SAFETY GUIDELINES

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

As Abia joins the league of states that have confirmed cases of Monkeypox, residents have been reminded of the need to maintain all stipulated guidelines to prevent and control its spread.

The Epidemiologist, Abia State Ministry of Heath, Mrs. Peace Nwogugu, made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Umuahia.

Nwogugu said so far, the state had recorded three confirmed cases, noting that the first two recovered rapidly while contact tracing and collection of samples for testing from those who came close to the patients had been done.

She said that while government had activated all necessary response activities, residents had a role to play in the prevention and control of the ailment by adhering to the stipulated public health guidelines.

The epidemiologist reiterated that as an ailment that spreads through contact, residents should avoid contact with an infected person or one suspected to have had contact with a confirmed case.

The people were also advised to take regular hand washing seriously, avoid unnecessary gatherings or travel and maintain social distance.

She also called on public health workers to maintain high index of suspicion and use a new hand glove to attend to each patient after washing their hands, while not hesitating to report any case of a patient down with high fever and rashes for appropriate action to be taken to that effect.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), between January 1 and July 24, 2022, 133 confirmed cases of Monkeypox comprising 89 males and 44 females were reported in Nigeria while the ailment had so far claimed three lives.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU