ABUJA/Nigeria: The Monkey pox virus has spread to 11 states and a total of 74 suspected cases have been recorded. The minister of health, Isaac Adewole made this known while addressing state house correspondents after the Federal executive meeting in Abuja on Wednesday and also dismissed reports that the military had been spreading the virus through vaccination. Monkeypox is a rare virus transmitted to humans from animals, with symptons similar to those seen in smallpox patients, although less severe.
The minister who updated the FEC on the virus outbreak listed the affected states as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nassarawa, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The health minister also added that they are expecting results of the various tests conducted.
“We are also doing tests at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede to really understand the genomics of the virus. Even when they are negative, the laboratory attendant should be able to tell us what they are”
On the alleged spread of the virus by the military, he said the military was never involved in any vaccination in the country and also used the opportunity to educate the public on how vaccination campaigns are done. “The Federal Government will take the lead but we do not conduct campaign without working with the states. So there is no way we will do the campaign without working with the states.”
It is important to remember that on October 11, the Federal Government confirmed 33 suspected cases of the virus which was first recorded in Bayelsa State in seven other states.
