Monkeypox spreads to 11 states
The Monkeypox virus outbreak has spread to 11 states with 74
suspected cases recorded, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.
Adewole
made the disclosure in Abuja on today when he briefed State House
correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council
(FEC).
President
Muhammadu Buhari chaired the meeting held at the State House Council Chamber,
Abuja.
The
Federal Government, on October 11 confirmed that 33 suspected cases of the
virus were recorded in seven states.
Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals)
with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients,
although less severe.
Smallpox
was eradicated in 1980. However, monkeypox still occurs sporadically in some
parts of Africa.
The
minister, who updated the Council on developments in respect of the outbreak,
listed the affected States as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti,
Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers as well as the FCT.
“The
Council also received an update on the state of the public health of the
nation. We informed the council about the latest development in respect of the
Monkey Pox virus outbreak. So far as of today, there are 74 suspected cases in
11 states of the country.
“We
have confirmed three from Bayelsa and 12 of the suspected cases from Bayelsa
tested negative; four suspected cases from Lagos tested negative. We are still
expecting the results of the other ones.
“We
are also doing test at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of
Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Edeh, to really understand the genomics of this
virus.
“Even
when they are negative, the laboratory attendant should be able to tell us what
exactly they are,’’ he said.
The
minister dismissed the assertion that the military was spreading Monkey Pox
virus through vaccination.
He
said that the military was never involved in any vaccination in the country,
adding that any vaccination must involve state governments and the Federal
Ministry of Health.
“It
is also important to dispel the rumour circulating in the country that the
military is vaccinating people and trying to spread Monkey Pox across the
country.
“The
military is not involved in any vaccination exercise.
“And
I must educate Nigerians about how vaccination campaigns are done. The Federal
Government will take the lead but we do not conduct campaign without working
with states.
“So,
there is no way we will do a campaign without working with the states,’’ he
said.
The
minister announced that his ministry was conducting vaccination in only three
states of the federation, namely Borno, Kwara and Kogi.
He
stated that the cholera vaccination was being conducted in Borno while that of
Yellow Fever vaccination was being carried out in Kwara and Kogi.
He
stated that the ministry would soon start vaccination against measles while a
nationwide vaccination against Yellow Fever would commence before the end of
the year.
Also
addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of
Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, revealed that the Council approved N236
million for the completion of Sabke Irrigation Dam in Katsina State.
He
said the contract for the dam was initially awarded in 1997, re-awarded in 2009
after it was abandoned, but would now be completed by the current
administration.
Monkeypox spreads to 11 states
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
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