Osun State government has confirmed two cases of m-pox in Ilesa West local government area(LGA) of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the state’s Commissioner for Health, Barr. Jola Akintola confirmed the cases during a meeting of m-pox Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Monday.
Akintola assured the public that the state government is actively managing the situation noting that m-pox is a preventable disease.
He said, “We successfully managed COVID-19 and prevented a cholera outbreak.”
“Now, with two confirmed m-pox cases, the EOC has been activated, and stakeholders will meet every Monday to strategise on preventing the spread of the virus.”
Akintola commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his proactive leadership and dedication to public health.
He revealed that during a recent visit to Abuja, he discussed the m-pox situation with the state Epidemiologist, who confirmed that Osun has only seen two cases in the last 34 weeks compared to hundreds in other states.
The state Epidemiologist, Dr. Omolola Adeagbo, while providing a situation report on m-pox, revealed that a total of 47 suspected cases were recorded from EPI Week One to Week 34 across 13 local government areas of the state.
Adeagbo said, “All 47 samples were sent to the laboratory, with two confirmed cases, both involving male patients aged five and 25 from Ilesa West.”
She mentioned actions taken in response to the disease including the deployment of Rapid Response Team (RRT) members to the field, advocacy and sensitisation efforts in the Ogbon Alafia community and at the index cases’ residence, as well as community active case search and retroactive health facility search.
The epidemiologist further noted that the confirmed cases have been linked to the state hospital in Ilesa.
