The first confirmed case of monkeypox, also known as mpox, has been reported in Cross River State.
The case was identified in Okoshe village, located in the Obudu Local Government Area. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Egbe Ayuk, announced this development on Sunday, following a confirmation from the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja.
The case involves a female patient from Okoshe village who initially sought medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre in Abakaliki.
The state’s health ministry was first notified of a possible mpox or chickenpox case by the Ebonyi State epidemiologist. A sample was subsequently sent to the national reference laboratory, where it tested positive for mpox and negative for chickenpox on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Commissioner Ayuk revealed that an investigation into the patient’s travel history is ongoing, as the state government works to contain the potential outbreak in Obudu.
In response to the situation, Ayuk has ordered the immediate activation of the mpox Emergency Operation Centre and appointed Ekpo Ekpo, the special adviser to the governor on health, as the incident manager.
The Obudu LGA response team, supported by the state team, has also begun implementing mitigation efforts. These efforts include identifying symptomatic contacts, quarantining them at General Hospital Sankwala, and collecting necessary samples.
Ayuk outlined several long-term measures to prevent the spread of the disease. These include transporting samples to the state hub, launching awareness campaigns, and ensuring that supplies are swiftly delivered to General Hospital Sankwala.
Additionally, monthly financial support will be provided to LGA surveillance teams to conduct active case searches in health facilities and communities.
The state and LGA teams will also oversee the establishment of isolation wards in hospitals, the provision of infection control supplies, and the promotion of hygiene education.
This incident follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of the mpox outbreak as a global health emergency on August 14, 2024.
