Akwa Ibom Records Eight Cases of Mpox, Launches Awareness Campaign

Akwa Ibom State has confirmed eight cases of the Mpox outbreak, prompting the National Orientation Agency to initiate a sensitisation campaign aimed at educating the public on the disease’s prevalence and prevention. The announcement follows a report from the Ministry of Health, highlighting the urgency of addressing this public health concern in the state.

During a press briefing in Uyo, the state capital, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, the agency’s coordinator, disclosed that staff members have been deployed to the affected local government areas since last week. He noted that Akwa Ibom currently has the highest number of Mpox cases in Nigeria, with ten local governments particularly impacted, including Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, and Ikot Ekpene.

Mkpoutom emphasized the critical need for public awareness, stating that health authorities do not have a curative treatment for Mpox at present, only management strategies. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to nearby medical facilities, warning that many might mistake the symptoms for ordinary rashes.

In a troubling report, Mkpoutom revealed that six individuals were infected within a single household in Onna Local Government Area. He explained that the disease’s transmission is not limited to monkeys but can also be spread by rats and bushmeat, stressing the importance of understanding the disease’s modes of transmission to prevent further outbreaks.

Affected individuals have been quarantined, and contact tracing is ongoing throughout the state. Mkpoutom reiterated the importance of community cooperation in managing the outbreak and encouraged residents to be proactive in seeking medical help if they suspect exposure to the disease.