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Health

Monkey ‎pox: Plateau records 2 positive cases

Monkey ‎pox: Plateau records 2 positive cases
By Blessing Odega
Monkey pox
Jos, June 7, 2018 (NAN) ‎The Plateau Government has confirmed that the state has recorded two positive cases of monkey pox in Shendam Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Kunden Deyin, the state Commissioner for Health, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos that the first case recorded was imported from Port-Harcort, as the victim came in from Rivers for treatment.
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According to the commissioner, the infected victim eventually infected his brother and both of them were treated at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos and discharged.

Deyin said that the state’s Epidemiology and Surveilance unit of the ministry are still monitoring the contacts to curtail the spread of the disease.

The commissioner said that the symptoms of monkey pox were similar to that of chicken pox, but more severe. ‎

He said that the disease is primarily transmitted from animal to man while the secondary source of transmission is through human to human contact. ‎‎
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Deyin warned that people who kill, touch or cook bush animals, such as rats, squirrels and monkeys were at risk of contracting the disease as they serve as reservoirs of the virus.
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He cautioned the public to desist from indulging in such acts.
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‎Deyin also called on the public to report any sign of unexplained rashes to the nearest health facility.

He further disclosed that the number of suspected cases has risen from the initial 87 suspected cases on Tuesday to 126 suspected cases.
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However, he assured that the ministry is working in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to contain the disease.

The commissioner further cautioned the public to ensure that they imbibe the act of hand washing and maintaining good hygiene as measures of preventing the disease.

Besides, Deyin further cautioned that people should desist from eating uncooked vegetables, raw fish, street foods and ensure that ‎they drink boiled water.

He also called on the public to report cases of diarrhoea and vomiting to the nearest health facility.

NAN recalls that the state had recorded five confirmed cases, three deaths from symptoms similar to cholera and 87 cases. (NAN)
UBO/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Delta confirms 3 cases of suspected Monkey pox disease

NAN-HG-12
Disease
By Carol V. Utulu
Asaba, Oct. 24, 2017 (NAN) The Delta state government has confirmed three reported cases of suspected monkey pox disease in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, made the disclosure Tuesday in Asaba at a media briefing.

Azinge said the suspected cases of the disease were currently under medical care at an undisclosed location in the state.

“A total of three cases of suspected monkey pox disease have been reported in Delta state with no death recorded so far.

“However, for now we cannot disclose the location of the victims for confidentiality reasons and in order not to cause panic in their areas.

“The monkey pox is self-limiting disease with no specific treatment and no vaccine, meaning that no matter what you do, the disease will run out its course.

“Because it is self-limiting, what we are doing is to treat manifested symptoms of the disease like rashes, headache, general body weakness etc.

“However, the suspected case of the disease does not confirm monkey pox; not until laboratory analysis confirms it,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the three victims were currently under intensive medical care, adding that surveillance officers in the 25 local government areas of the state have been put on alert.

According to him, the disease that was first diagnosed in 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark can be transmitted by contact with an infected animal or human being.

“Eating meats of infected animals that are not properly cooked is a possible risk factor and mode of transmission of the monkey pox disease.

“We want to appeal to residents in the state to remain calm as the Ministry and other health agencies are collaborating to curtail any eminent spread of the disease in the state.

“As part of preventive measure, we appeal to the people to endeavour to wash their hands and avoid contact with infected animals or persons.

”Also, people should ensure they cook their meat properly before eating.

“As a state, we will also ensure the isolation of all infected persons and quarantine of animals and persons who may have come in contact with infected animals or persons,” Azinge said.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to sensitise residents on the preventive measures and appealed to them to report any suspected case of the disease to the ministry’s hotlines.

He gave the ministry’s surveillance telephone numbers as 07037120510 and 08036680782. (NAN)
CVU/JEO/IS
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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Ismail Abdulaziz

Health

Monkey pox: Nasarawa Govt caution residents against bush meats

Monkey pox: Nasarawa Govt caution residents against bush meats
NAN-HG-13
Bush meats
By Awayi Kuje
Lafia, Oct. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government has advised residents against eating bush meats in order to avoid the risk of contracting monkey pox disease.
The state Director of Public Health in the ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Adamu, gave the advice on Friday while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
He called for calm and assured that the state government has put all necessary measures in place to protect the lives of residents.
“The first case of the disease was seen in Bayelsa state in the South-South region and since then other states have recorded suspected cases and it is also on record that out of the 74 suspected cases, only three have been confirmed to be case of monkey pox and these three are all in Bayelsa state.
“In Nasarawa state, for the sake of emphasis, Nasarawa state has not recorded any confirmed case of monkey pox, that is why I am calling on the residents of the state not to eat monkey so as to avoid monkey diseases,” he said.
Adamu also said that the ministry had prepared radio and television jingles that would educate and enlightening the people of the state on the prevention method of monkey pox.
“We are also planning to do sensitisation training for doctors, nurses and pharmacists, among other health workers, that are the first people that sick people get to. We want to create awareness on the prevention of monkey pox disease.
The director called on the people of the state to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility for prompt action.
He listed some of the symptoms of monkey pox to include fever, pain and rashes resembling chicken pox, among others.
He restated the ministry’s commitment to continue to key in to good health policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Monkey pox: Expert advocates ban on importation of rodents

Monkey pox: Expert advocates ban on importation of rodents
NAN-HG-1
Monkey-pox
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Oct. 17, 2017 (NAN) A veterinary doctor, Mr Mutiu Oladele-Bukola, has advocated ban on the importation of rodents into the country to curtail further outbreak of monkey pox and other zoonotic diseases.
Oladele-Bukola of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday.
He said that because of the outbreak of monkey pox people moving in and out of the country should be immunised against the virus.
He emphasised that surveillance measures and rapid identification of new cases were critical for outbreak containment, stressing that people suspected of monkey pox disease should be well quarantined.
Oladele-Bukola also suggested the establishment of functional Critical Disease Control (CDC) centres to contain such outbreak aside aggressive public education on preventive measures against viral diseases.
According to him, monkey pox, a zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) disease, is cause by oval brick-shaped viruses that have lipoprotein layer with filaments that cover the viral DNA.
“There are many members of this viral genus, including species such as variola (small pox), rabbitpox, cowpox, buffalopox, etc.
Most species infect a particular animal species but occasionally may infect other animals,” he said.
He advised Nigerians to avoid consumption of bush meat, dead animals particularly bush monkeys, stressing that meat and meat products should be thoroughly cooked before eating.
He further disclosed that the disease could be prevented by avoiding eating or touching animals known to acquire the virus in the wild (mainly African rodents and monkeys).
“Person to person transfer has been documented; patients who have the disease should physically isolate themselves till all the pox lesions are healed.
“People who care for the patients should use gloves, face masks to avoid any direct or droplet contact, caregivers should obtain a small pox vaccination.
“Because small pox and monkey pox are so closely related, studies have suggested that people vaccinated against small pox have about an 85 per cent chance of being protected from monkey pox,” he said.
Oladele-Bukola also advised citizens to avoid contact with materials such as bedding that had been in contact with a sick animal or person and to practice good hand hygiene with/without contact with infected animals/humans.
He explained that transmission of monkey pox was by direct contact with infected animals or possibly by eating poorly cooked meat from infected rodents or monkey.
“Mucosal lesions on infected animals are likely source of transmission to humans, especially when the human skin is broken due to bites, scratches or other trauma that are likely source for virus infection.
“It can also be through person to person transfer, probably by infected respiratory droplets or skin lesions of infected person or objects recently contaminated by patient materials.
“As well as through physical touch, contact with stool or blood contacts,” he said. (NAN)
CC/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FCTA says no confirmed case of monkey pox in Abuja

FCTA says no confirmed case of monkey pox in Abuja
NAN-HG-1
Monkey-pox
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2017 (NAN) Dr Humpherey Okoroukwu, the Acting Director, Public Health, Federal Capital Territory Administration, says there is no confirmed case of monkey pox in Abuja.
Okoroukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja on Thursday that though there were two suspected cases reported at Gwarimpa General Hospital in Abuja.
He explained that he was called by the Medical Director of the hospital that cases suspected to be monkey pox were reported and he led a team of health workers to investigate them.
According to him, the sample of the suspected cases of a man and a woman had been taken to a reference laboratory for a test and they were waiting for the result.
“I can tell you authoritatively that there is no confirmed case of monkey pox in the territory.
“Nobody should panic because we have not confirmed any case and do not hope to confirm any and there is nothing wrong for people to report any suspected case,” he said.
The director advised residents to imbibe culture of cleanliness to minimise chances of contracting the disease.
He added that rodents and monkey of Africa specie are the vectors of monkey pox, urging residents to avoid direct contact with such animals, dead or alive, as well as the people suspected to be infected.
Okoroukwu also enjoined health workers to take universal precautions prescribed while discharging their duties. (NAN)
MS/YAZ/MST
Edited by Yusuf Zango/Muhammad Suleiman Tola