The outbreak of monkeypox disease has begun spreading anxiety across the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State as one active case has been diagnosed in Abakaliki. Additionally, about 32 suspected cases were recorded but there no death has been recorded in both the suspected and confirmed cases in the state.
The for an active case search has increased across all the LGAs in the state. Since the onset of this outbreak, Ebonyi has a total of 32 recorded suspected cases with only 1 confirmed case. The fatality rate is at yet still at zero.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, “A 32-year-old male farmer who hails from Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara LGA but lives in Abakaliki was reported to have traveled to Rivers State, returned to Ebonyi on 7th of July 2022, with fever, maculopapular rash, sore throat, headache and generalized weakness of the body. A presumptive diagnosis of monkeypox was made to rule out any case of smallpox.”
“A sample was then collected and sent to the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and the result tested positive for Monkeypox virus. The patient was admitted to Ebonyi State isolation center and is at present being managed for monkeypox and responding to treatment. A total of 7 contacts have been identified and highlighted and are currently being followed up.”
He said: “Active case search has been heightened across all the LGAs in the state to strengthen case finding. The signs and symptoms include fever, headache, generalized body pain, malaise, lymphadenopathy that is the swelling of the lymph node, sore throat, rash which appears 1 to 3 days after fever onset and the rash often begins on the face and then spread to limbs, trunks, genitalia, palms, and soles) and intense asthenia (lack of energy).”
Risk communication activities have been increased to caution the public on preventive measures that can be taken.
