Monkey Pox Epidemic Cases Rise to 13 as Bayelsa Govt. Battles Scourge

At least 13 suspected cases of the new Monkey Pox viral disease were being treated at an isolation ward at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, THISDAY learnt on Friday.

This is as the Rivers State government yesterday night dismissed rumours that the dreaded monkey pox virus had spread to a local government in the state, clarifying that there was no reported case in its domain.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Chike Princewill, was earlier yesterday quoted of having said that three cases of the virus were reported in the Port Harcourt metropolis. The cases were said to have been discovered on Thursday night at Rumoulumeni, Eneka and Psychiatric Road areas of Port Harcourt. But in a statement yesterday night, Princewill denied the reports and said the suspected cases had been ruled out as they were mere severe symptom of other ailments.

It was also gathered that in Bayelsa, over 50 persons were being actively traced at different locations in the state following the outbreak of the disease which had also infected a medical doctor who came in contact with the patients.

However, the State Government said yesterday that it had inaugurated a 12-member rapid response team comprising top medical professionals to prevent the spread of the disease, which has assumed an a epidemic proportion.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebimitula Etebu, who inaugurated the committee , noted that besides the 12 members, which make up the core team, other sub-teams to carry out contact tracing of patients had also been established.

He said: ”At present, as we speak, we have 13 suspected cases at different stages of recovery following treatment at the makeshift isolation ward at NDUTH, Okolobiri.

“There are also over 50 persons being actively followed at differently located places in the state. And this is in order to quickly detect any new cases following exposure to suspected cases.

“The state Ministry of Health, with the support of the international community led by the World Health Organisation, international partners, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control have since embarked on enlightenment campaigns.

“Active disease surveillance has also been carried out. Case management and other sundry measures have also been carried out in a bid to halt the spread of the disease in the state”.

While stressing that there was no need for panic and that government had taken every possible action to curtail the disease, Etebu said the situation could get out of hand if critical measures like the government was taking were not quickly put in place.