By Gbenga Akingbule
Borno State Government on Monday confirmed 3 positive cases of Monkey Pox disease after samples of four suspected cases were taken to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Laboratory in Gaduwa, Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that the State Director of Public Health, Dr Lawi Auta Mshelia made the confirmation in Maiduguri the state capital while speaking to reporters.
Mshelia, who revealed that the first suspected case was reported two weeks ago, stated that samples of four suspected cases were collected from two Local Government Areas of Gwoza and Biu.
According to him “out of the samples of four suspected cases, two were returned positive for Gwoza Local Government and one positive case for Biu while one sample returned negative from NCDC Laboratory.”
Dr. Mshelia also revealed that the three positive patients have been responding to treatment while some are due to be discharged.
The Public Health Director added that contact tracing in “all the Hospitals where the Monkey Pox cases were admitted and patients homes were screened and line listed all staffs that provided care to Monkey Pox clients and family members. To date, none of the contacts develops the illness.
He noted that the state is not relenting in its publicity and sensitisation of all residents on the outbreak of Monkey Pox and other diseases.
“Borno State has Disease Surveillance Structure in place and they have been working hard to ensure effective sensitisation of the residents in different communities. It is also pertinent to note that some of our surveillance officers will be travelling out of the state for training by NCDC. ” Dr Mshelia said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will “continue to support the Borno state ministry of health to ensure enough awareness is enhanced on the prevention of epidemic-prone diseases. Including awareness of monkeypox, cholera, and covid-19.
“The team (community health champions) is also engaging with communities to avail themselves of covid-19 vaccination. Because it remains important that no individual should be left out from receiving their covid-19 vaccination.” WHO Northeast emergency manager,” Dr. Richard Lako said on Monday.
