By Egufe Yafugborhi & Chioma Onuegbu

AKWA Ibom government has confirmed five cases of Monkey Pox (Mpox) in parts of the state with affected persons placed on isolation and contact tracing against likely spread conducted.

Samuel Etuk, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer with the state Ministry of Health who had earlier announced four cases confirmed an additional case yesterday.

Etuk, had announced the first four cases at the Media Review Meeting organized by the Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) in collaboration with the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme(STBLCP) in Uyo,

And on a WhatsApp post yesterday, the state health official disclosed “We have another positive case of Mpox bringing the tally to 5 confirmed cases in the State.”

It was gathered that a total of 30 samples collected for diagnosis presented the four cases among three males and a female with age ranging from two, four, 12 and 41 years.

He reported that contact tracing for any transmission was conducted while the affected persons had been placed on isolation.

He further explained that 10 community informants had been engaged per ward to work in catchment areas, reporting to the health focal person who then forward same to the local government disease surveillance  and notification officers to report to the Ministry of Health.

Mpox spread from animal to animal and called, zoonotic while man to man is transmitted directly or indirectly through urine, faeces, blood, sexual contact, broken skin, eyes nose, mouth, contact with skin lesions and oral secretions.

The disease symptom lasts 5-21 days, incubation period and include  headache, swollen lymph, nodes, fever, back and muscle pain, lack of energy, rashes beginning on face to other parts such as palms, soles and feet, etc.

Preventive measures include; avoiding contact with animals where Mpox is confirmed from sick or dead ones, avoiding contact with persons infected, isolation of infected animals.

Others include practicing of hand washing with soap, sanitizing of hand, meat cooking before consumption, and use of appropriate protective clothing and gloves while handling sick animals.

Etuk urged the public to report suspected cases at the nearest health facility or call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

August 14 this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Global Public Health Emergency of international concern in Africa after reviewing available data.