Akwa Ibom records five mpox cases as contact tracing begins

Akwa Ibom government has recorded five cases of monkeypox (Mpox) after 30 samples were collected from different LGAs for diagnosis.

Speaking during a press briefing in Uyo, the state capital, on Friday, Samuel Etuk, a disease surveillance and notification officer at the Akwa Ibom ministry of health, said four of the samples returned positive.

“Four cases were confirmed; three of them are male and one female; they are aged two, four, 12, and 41 years, respectively,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“This confirmation was by Breakthrough Action Nigeria in collaboration with the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme.

“We have another positive case of Mpox; this latest case brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to five.”

Etuk said the ministry has commenced contact tracing to prevent transmission, adding that infected persons have been isolated.

He said 10 community-based informants had been engaged to work in catchment areas for contact tracing.

“They will be reporting to the health facility focal person who will communicate the local government disease surveillance and notification office,” he said.

“The full report will later be submitted to the state ministry of health for prompt action.”

He said residents should avoid contact with infected persons or animals to prevent the spread of the disease.

He advised residents to practice regular hand washing, use hand sanitisers, and protective clothing and gloves while handling infected persons or animals.

Etuk added that they should report suspected cases to a nearest health facility or call a Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) office in their locality.