First Mpox Case Confirmed
Cross River State health officials have confirmed the first case of Mpox within Okoshe community located in Obudu’s local government area. Dr. Egbe Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, announced the confirmation following tests conducted by the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja.
Details of the Mpox Confirmation
The health commissioner disclosed that the State Epidemiologist of Ebonyi raised suspicions of a potential Mpox or Chickenpox case on August 19th. Following this, authorities promptly sent a sample to the national laboratory, which confirmed it as positive for Mpox and ruled out Chickenpox on August 24th.
Investigation and Patient History
The diagnosed patient, a female resident of Okoshe village, initially sought medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki. Authorities are actively investigating her travel history to determine why she visited Ebonyi, particularly since there were no medical referrals from her local area in Obudu.
State Response to Prevent Spread
In response to the confirmed case, the state has activated the Mpox Emergency Operation Center. Dr. Dr. Ayuk appointed Ekpo Ekpo as the Incident Manager and directed the Obudu local government response team, supported by the state team, to immediately initiate containment efforts.
Mitigation and Public Awareness Efforts
The containment strategy includes identifying individuals showing symptoms, quarantining close contacts at General Hospital Sankwala, and conducting sample collections from those symptomatic. Additionally, the state has launched awareness campaigns in local churches, schools, and broader community gatherings to educate and prevent further spread.
Ongoing Developments and Health Advisories
Health authorities urge residents of Okoshe and surrounding areas to remain vigilant and immediately report any symptoms related to Mpox. They are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as they become available.
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