The National Orientation Agency in Akwa Ibom State has announced that the government has traced six cases of Mpox to a single household in the state. This development has prompted the government to launch a sensitisation campaign to educate the public on the prevalence and prevention of Mpox disease.
This follows a report from the Ministry of Health indicating that Akwa Ibom State has recorded eight cases of the Mpox outbreak. Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, the NOA coordinator in Akwa Ibom State, told journalists on Monday that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was able to trace the six cases to one household after the individuals migrated from Onna Local Government Area to Uyo, the state capital.
“In Onna LGA, about six people were afflicted in one house and those six people unfortunately had to migrate to Uyo for some unknown reasons before the NCDC was able to trace and get down here,” Mkpoutom said.
“I think you can see how the thing spread and Uyo now became the second place affected.”
Mkpoutom noted that the agency’s personnel had been sent to the affected councils since last week after getting directives from the state ministry of health.
“I am sure that you are very much aware that Akwa Ibom is having the highest cases of Mpox right now as we speak .
“So, my people have been on the field since last week when we had the instruction from the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the state agency on health matters.
“At least ten local government areas are seriously affected, and some of the most affected local government areas are Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Ekpene. At least 10 for now. The meaning is that in the whole federation, Akwa Ibom ranks high in Mpox disease,” he said.
Mkpoutom urged residents to report any such cases to the nearest medical centre for treatment. He mentioned that in Onna Local Government Area alone, about six people were affected.
