Plateau State has confirmed Seven cases of persons infected with Monkey Pox virus from the latest report.
Mrs Martina Nuwan the Plateau State Epidemiologist, stated this today in her office in Jos, while given an update on the spread of the virus in the state.
She said so far, out of the 24 suspected samples they took, 7 were confirmed positive while the results of 2 that were taken yesterday are still pending.
Mrs. Nuwan further stated that there was a call from Bassa local government area yesterday with a suspected case which their surveillance team are handling right now.
She said all the 7 cases were treated at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Jos and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), with no death recorded yet.
According to her, though the primary source of transmission of the virus is from animals, the secondary source of transmission is from humans and contaminated environments like surfaces and clothes of an infected person.
She said everybody is vulnerable to Monkey Pox disease, including infants and the aged, but research has shown that most of the people that are infected by the virus are between the ages of 30 to 50 years.
Mrs. Nuwan added that generally, the male sex has the highest number of infected person’s compared to female, but in Plateau State as of now most of the victims are females.
She added that Monkey Pox symptoms are not different from most of the viral diseases but there are some clinical manifestations like fever, weakness of the body and the most topical one is rashes on the face of an infected person before spreading to other parts of the body.
“It can be all over the body, but 95% is found on the face” she further added.
The Epidemiologist said, some precautionary measures that people need to take against contacting Monkey Pox virus are to avoid direct contact with animals and people with manifestations of the symptoms, and also avoid contact with beddings and other materials contaminated with the virus.
She advised infected Person’s to isolate themselves when such symptoms are manifesting and encouraged people to always go to hospital when they discovered any abnormalities in their body.
While talking about the cure for the virus, Mrs. Nuwan said for now there is no vaccine for Monkey Pox but it’s believes that the Small Pox vaccine can also prevent the Monkey Pox since they are similar virus, and is curable.
Mrs. Nuwan said the state government through Ministry of Health has an Enhance Surveillance Team and the Public Health Emergency Response Center that are coordinating emerging and reemerging diseases like the Monkey Pox.
Monkey Pox was declared a public health emergency of International concern by World Health Organization this year.