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The Benue State Government has dispelled rumours of an outbreak of monkeypox (Mpox) in the state, declaring that no such outbreak has been confirmed.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday.
Ogwuche was reacting to reports circulating on social media regarding a suspected Mpox outbreak at Tyokula Achihi Residence, Korinya, Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
He said that immediately the information came to the government’s attention, the Ministry activated its surveillance system in line with established public health protocols.
The Director of Public Health was directed to liaise with the State Epidemiologist, who immediately deployed the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) for Konshisha LGA to the reported location for on-the-ground assessment, case investigation, and collection of appropriate clinical samples for laboratory testing.
Ogwuche said, “At this stage, no Mpox outbreak has been confirmed in Benue State.”
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He emphasised that skin rashes and fever can result from several medical conditions, and laboratory confirmation is required before any diagnosis of Mpox can be made.
The Commissioner, who noted that Governor Hyacinth Alia places the highest priority on protecting the health of every Benue citizen, said, “Our disease surveillance system remains active across all 23 LGAs, and we maintain close collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners to ensure prompt detection and response to any public health event.”
The Commissioner therefore appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic.
He further encouraged anyone experiencing fever accompanied by unexplained rashes or blisters to report immediately to the nearest health facility for proper medical evaluation and to avoid close physical contact until assessed by healthcare professionals.
He commended members of the community for promptly reporting the situation, saying early reporting is essential for effective disease surveillance and response.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to keep the public informed as soon as the investigation and laboratory findings become available, saying that should the results confirm Mpox or any other disease of public health importance, appropriate response measures would be implemented immediately in accordance with national guidelines.
