The Kwara State Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of monkey pox in the state.
This follows rigorous efforts of the surveillance and response team that had been activated since the index case was reported in the country in March, 2022.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq confirmed the development in a statement.
According to him, the first confirmed case in Kwara State involves a 29-year-old Nigerian driver who developed symptoms of fever, generalised rash, and weakness in the last two weeks and had been under our surveillance.
He added that there were contact with the wife and four neighbours with similar symptoms where he lives at Gbugbu in Edu Local Government Area of the state, all of which have been resolved by the health team.
The commissioner disclosed that the patient has been on admission in the last 1 week because of suspicion of monkey pox. He has also been under strict monitoring by the surveillance and clinical team, stressing that currently, the patient is improving and stable in the ward.
The government’s team has similarly begun health facility and community case search/contact tracing, he explained.
The team will also intensify continuous public and community sensitization on the disease and its symptoms for public education and control.
“There is also ongoing training and retraining of health workers to strengthen our response to the development” he stated.
The Ministry of Health is also notifying the appropriate agencies, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, of the development.
The commissioner therefore implored members of the public to step up efforts at personal and community hygiene as we work together to fight this disease.
Emmanuel Ukoh
