The Nasarawa State government has recorded six confirmed cases of Monkeypox disease in the state.
The Commissioner of Health, Ahmed Yahaya stated this during a press briefing in Lafia the State capital.
Yahaya said four victims were discovered in Lafia while two were in Keffi Local Government Areas of the state since the outbreak occurred in the country.
He said; “They have all recovered from the disease with no deaths. Healthcare workers have been sensitised on the occurrence of this disease, trainings have been conducted, drugs and essential commodities for the treatment of the disease have also been procured.
“Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family.”
He said the disease is severe amongst children, pregnant women and the immuno-suppressed.
Yahaya explained that ”the disease typically lasts for two to four weeks and characterised by fever, headache, muscle pains, shivering, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over.”
Yahaya urged people to avoid close contact with those who have rash suspected or confirmed to be monkeypox
“Do not touch the rash or scabs. Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone suspected or confirmed to have rash of monkeypox. Do not share eating utensils with someone who has monkeypox,” he stressed.
Yahaya therefore, said an Emergency Operational Centre (EOC) for MonkeyPox have been activated and an Incident Manager has been appointed.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
