Plateau records 7 cases of Monkey Pox virus

Plateau State has confirmed seven cases of Monkey Pox virus from the latest report.

The state epidemiologist, Mrs. Martina Nuwan stated this yesterday in her office in Jos, while giving an update on the spread of the virus in the state.

Nuwan said out of the 24 suspected samples they took, seven were confirmed positive while the results of two that were taken on Thursday were still pending.

She said there was a call from Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on a suspected case, which the states surveillance team is handling currently.

According to her, all the seven cases were treated at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Jos and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), with no death recorded.

She said though the primary source of transmission of the virus is from animals, the secondary source of transmission is from humans and contaminated environments like surfaces and clothes of an infected person.

She stated that everybody is vulnerable to Monkey Pox disease, including infants and the aged, saying that research has shown that most of the people that were infected by the virus are between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

Generally, she added, the male has the highest number of infection compared to their female counterpart, but most of the victims in Plateau State, are females.

She said Monkey Pox symptoms are not different from most of the viral diseases, saying that there were some clinical manifestations like fever, weakness of the body and the most topical one is rash on the face of an infected person before spreading to other parts of the body.

It can be all over the body, but 95% is found on the face, she further added.

The epidemiologist said, some precautionary measures that people need to take against contacting the virus are to avoid direct contact with animals and people with manifestations of the symptoms, and also avoid contact with beddings and other materials contaminated with the virus.

She advised infected persons to isolate themselves when such symptoms are manifesting and encouraged people to always go to hospital when they discovered any abnormalities in their body.

On the cure for the virus, Nuwan said for there is no vaccine for the virus but it is believed that the Small Pox vaccine could also prevent the Monkey Pox since they are similar virus, and is curable.

Nuwan said the state government through Ministry of Health has an Enhance Surveillance Team and the Public Health Emergency Response Centre that are coordinating emerging and reemerging diseases like the Monkey Pox.

World Health Organisation declared monkey Pox a public health emergency of international concern this year.

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Plateau records 7 cases of Monkey Pox virus