Following recent report of one suspected monkey pox case in the state, Government of Akwa Ibom says it has reactivated its infectious disease emergency response team and embarked on aggressive public enlightenment campaign aimed at minimizing the spread of the disease.
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The state Commissioner for Health Dr. Dominic Ukpong who briefed newsmen yesterday in Uyo said that the state government has intensified public enlightenment and civic engagement in its efforts to curb the spread of the viral monkey pox disease.
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He explained that since the news of the pox outbreak in the nearby state of Bayelsa the state government has activated its infectious disease control programme
Flanked by the state Commissioner for information and strategy Mr. Charles Udo Dr. Ukpong said that for now, only one case of Monkey pox has so far been reported in the state.
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‘’We received information about a female petty trader who had suspicious rashes and on getting to her we found out that her two children had similar cases all of them has been quarantined while we continue to monitor their situation’’ he stated.
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The health Commissioner urged residents of the state to report all suspected cases of the disease by using hotlines emergency no 08037934966 09023330092 and 08037934966, to get rapid response team.
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State government has commenced sensitization campaign and advocacy visits to rural communities on the need to reassure the indigenes of intervention and activities in curbing further spread of monkey pox.
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He added that it is important for people to take note of the fact that prevention is better than cure and therefore required them to always wash their hands, avoid monkeys, bushmeats and dead animals as well as be on the lookout for symptoms which often manifests as various stages of rash and an intense weakness of the body, severe pains, among other things.
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Ukpong appealed to journalist not escalate the situation through dissemination of unconfirmed report from the ministry in order not to create unnecessary panic among the people.
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Source: Leadership
