The Rivers State Government has reported two confirmed cases of Mpox, a viral infection commonly known as monkeypox.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, during a news conference held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Dr. Oreh emphasized that the state has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to effectively manage and respond to potential health emergencies related to the infection.
She noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has identified a total of 39 confirmed Mpox cases nationwide, with Rivers State accounting for two of these cases.
In response to the situation, the state government has mobilized medical teams to address emergencies at various healthcare facilities, including general and specialist hospitals.
Dr. Oreh outlined an incident response plan specifically for Mpox and highlighted efforts to trace and identify all potential cases within the state.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health has trained ad hoc personnel to enhance monitoring and response capabilities against the infection.
Dr. Oreh stated, “The ad hoc staff now have the capacity to respond to this infection at all levels of our healthcare pillar.”
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close contact between individuals and can also spread via contaminated surfaces.
The Ministry of Health is taking proactive measures to ensure public safety and health in light of this development.
