Nasarawa records six cases of monkeypox

Nasarawa State Government said it has recorded four cases of Monkeypox in Lafia and two cases in Keffi local government areas of the state.

The state commissioner of health, Pharm Ahmed Baba Yahaya, who revealed this on Thursday at a media briefing in Lafia, said the disease was mostly found among children, pregnant women and the immuno-suppressed.

Yahaya said, “Four victims were discovered in Lafia while two were diagnosed in Keffi Local Government Area of the state since the outbreak of the disease within the nation.

“No deaths have been recorded since the outbreak of the disease. Healthcare workers have been enlightened as a result of the occurrence of this disease. Also, training has also been conducted, drugs and important commodities for the treatment of the disease have also been purchased,” he said.

Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family.

The health commissioner, however, maintained that the disease typically lasts for two to four weeks and is occasioned by fever, headache, muscle pains, shivering, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over.

He urged the citizens of the state to shun close contact with those who have rashes suspected or confirmed to be monkeypox.

Yahaya added, “Do not touch the rash or scabs. Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone suspected or confirmed to have a rash of monkeypox. Do not share eating utensils with someone who has monkeypox.”

The commissioner affirmed that an Emergency Operational Centre (EOC) for Monkeypox has been activated and an incident manager has been appointed.