THE outbreak of the monkeypox complaint has started causing jitters across the 13 Original Government areas of Ebonyi State as one active case has been reported in Abakaliki.
Also, 32 suspected cases were recorded but there has been no record of any death both in suspected and verified cases in the state.
“ Active case hunt has been heightened across all the LGAs in the state to strengthen case finding. Since the onset of this outbreak, Ebonyi has recorded an aggregate of 32 suspected cases with only 1 verified case. The case casualty rate is still 0 as there has been no record of any death both in suspected and verified cases in the state. ”
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, “ A 32- time-old manly planter who hails from Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara LGA but resides in Abakaliki said to have traveled to Rivers State returned to Ebonyi on 7th of July 2022, with fever, maculopapular rash, sore throat, headache and generalized weakness of the body. A plausible opinion of monkeypox was made to rule out smallpox.
“ Sample was collected and transferred to the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and the result came out positive for Monkeypox Virus. The case was admitted to Ebonyi State insulation center and is presently being managed for monkeypox and he’s responding to treatment. 7 connections have been linked and line- listed which are presently been followed up. ”
He said “ Active case hunt has been heightened across all the LGAs in the state to strengthen case chancing ” adding that “ Signs and symptoms include fever, headache, generalized body pain, malaise, lymphadenopathy( lump of the lymph knot), sore throat, rash( the rash will appear 1 to 3 days after onset of fever and the rash frequently begin on the face and also spread to branches, caddies, genitalia, triumphs, and soles) and violent delicacy( lack of energy). “
The statement read in part “ Outbreak in Ebonyi State presented by the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike Monday 15th August 2022. Following the announcement of a suspected case of Monkeypox on the 10th of August, 2022 at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.
“ EOC has been actuated to coordinate the outbreak disquisition and response across the 13LGAs in the State and is presently supporting response conditioning to contain the monkeypox outbreak via active case hunt, epidemiological disquisition, contact line table, and monitoring of all exposed connections. Public Health measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and testing to enable laboratory evidence.
“ threat communication conditioning has been heightened to advise the public on preventative measures.
In light of the below, it’s important to be reminded that monkeypox is a viral zoonotic complaint with symptoms in humans analogous to those seen in smallpox cases, but much less severe and with a low case casualty rate.
“ It has an incubation period of 5 to 21 days. Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a spell- suchlike complaint passed in colonies of monkeys kept for exploration, hence the name monkeypox.
“ The first mortal case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of boosted sweats to exclude smallpox. Also, monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries. The case casualty rate is 1 to 10, with the utmost deaths being in youngish age groups and immunocompromised cases.
“ The beast force isn’t yet known but is largely suspected to be small mammal species similar to rodents. The Orthopoxvirus rubric( to which monkeypox belongs) also includes variola contagion( the cause of smallpox) and cowpox contagion.
“ The NCDC standard case description for monkeypox is an acute illness with a fever lesser than38.3 æC, violent headache, lymphadenopathy, back pain, myalgia, and violent delicacy followed 1 to 3 days latterly by progressive developing rash frequently beginning on the face also spreading away on the body, including soles of bases and triumphs of the hand. WHO has declared monkeypox as a complaint of a public health exigency.
“ Transmission is via contact with an infected beast, Human, or defiled accouterments. creatures- to-mortal transmission occurs through mouthfuls or scrapes from creatures and backcountry meat medication. It can also be transmitted from person to person. mortal- to-mortal transmission occurs through respiratory driblets, contact with infected persons, or defiled accouterments.
“ Control measures include insulation of verified cases, strict adherence to universal preventives, especially frequent hand- washing with cleaner and water, use of face mask, maintaining social distance to suspected and verified cases, avoid contact with a rodent, meat should be duly cooked before consumption and use of particular defensive outfit for healthcare workers.
“ Monkeypox is tone- limiting which means cases tend to recover with time. still, probative care and operation of the condition are needed and are substantially successful.
Ebonyians are advised to remain calm and go about their normal business.
“ Avoid tone- drug and report any suspected case to the nearest health installation. Public health measures are to be rigorously stuck to. Treatment is free and is been supported by Ebonyi State Government. ”
