Victoria Mgbanwa
The Akwa Ibom State government has launched a widespread sensitization campaign to educate communities on Mpox prevention and control, aiming to curb the spread of Mpox spread across the state.
According to a report by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Akwa Ibom, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) identified six cases within one household.
This household had recently relocated from Onna Local Government Area to Uyo, the state capital, underscoring the mobility of the disease across communities.
Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, the NOA Coordinator in Akwa Ibom, while addressing Journalists said, “In Onna LGA, about six people were afflicted in one house, and those six people unfortunately had to migrate to Uyo, for some unknown reasons before the NCDC was able to trace and get down here.
“I think you can see how the thing spread and Uyo now became the second place affected,”
“I am sure that you are very much aware that Akwa Ibom is having the highest cases of Mpox right now as we speak.
“So, my people have been on the field since last week when we had the instruction from the ministry of health, in partnership with the state agency on health matters.
“At least 10 local government areas are seriously affected, and some of the most affected local government areas are Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Ekpene. At least 10 for now. The meaning is that in the whole federation, Akwa Ibom ranks high in Mpox disease.
“We are asking people to please report cases of such. People should not think that it is ordinary rashes (krokro), it is not and the thing is easily spread. It is contracted from bush meat.
“Initially, it was ascribed to have been spread by monkeys but now after having conducted some research, we discovered that it is not spread by monkeys alone. It is even the rats that spread it. And when it gets into a man, it spreads to the house.”
Akwa Ibom’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a total of eight Mpox cases within the state, the highest number recorded across Nigerian states this year. The NOA, along with state health agencies, has sent personnel to affected areas, such as Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, and Ikot Ekpene, with a targeted focus on local government areas most affected.
