Seven suspected Monkey Pox cases recorded in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Thursday, revealed that seven suspected cases of dreaded Monkey Pox have been recorded in four Hospitals in Abuja, with samples of six victims taken and sent to Senegal for test and confirmation.

This was disclosed by the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) of FCTA, Amanda Pam, while briefing newsmen on Thursday.

It has in the meantime, denied rumours that there is an outbreak of the Monkey Pox in Abuja in the nation’s capital.
According to the Secretary, “three suspected cases were recorded in National Hospital, 2 in Gwarinpa Hospital, one each in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada and Nyanya General Hospital.”

She said the recorded cases were that of chicken pox, which shares similar appearance to monkey pox. On Wednesday, there was a rumoured two cases of Monkey Pox outbreak at Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja.

Read Also : PHOTOSCENE: Elrufai presents 2018 budget

“Though we have some suspected cases but samples were collected and sent to the lab, so we are waiting for the results but from all indications, it is not monkey pox.

“But I think I like the suspicion because it’s better to suspect than to ignore it and it later turns out to be positive. The truth now is that there is no confirmed case of monkey pox disease in FCT,” she stressed.

Explaining further, Acting Director, Public Health FCT, Humphrey Okoroukwu, disclosed that he had already visited the said hospital on Wednesday, reaffirming no case of the virus was found..

He said surveillance officers from the public health department of the FCTA are being deployed to the 62 wards of the Territory, as a precautionary measure against threatening health issues.

The Federal Government, had through Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), on Monday, confirmed suspected outbreak of Monkey Pox in 7 states in Nigeria, which included Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River states.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, National Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Thursday, informed lawmakers that 33 cases of the Monkey Pox infection had been reported in seven states of the Federation.

The NCDC scribe said that 17 out of the number manifested in Bayelsa State alone.

According to him, other states where the disease has manifested, are Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, Ogun. He however, pointed out that it was not certain whether or not all the victims reported to have been afflicted by monkey pox were actually infected by the virus or other diseases with similar symptoms.

Senators have also described as a national embarrassment and shame, the lack of public diagnostic centre for detection of the current outbreak in some states of the federation.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now