The Benue state epidemiologist, Dr. Asema Msuega, says the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox disease in the state has increased to 20, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, the epidemiologist also said four new samples returned positive.
According to him, the confirmed disease cases are confined to two local government areas: Makurdi and Gwer West.
However, suspected cases have been reported across five local government areas: Ushongo, Katsina-Ala, Gboko, Makurdi, and Gwer West.
Dr. Msuega said that the most recent is from Gwer East, with samples already sent to the laboratory.
He noted that three confirmed cases had initially been treated and discharged from the isolation centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
The epidemiologist further stated that the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday from the reference laboratory.
According to him, “the patient is still in an isolation centre and receiving treatment but responding well.
“Many of the suspected cases have also come out of isolation. It’s not every case that we take to the hospital for isolation, we advise some to self-isolate at home just like we did during the outbreak of COVID-19,” he said.
“We are creating massive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease and to imbibe basic prevention and control measures, including washing hands, to avoid unnecessary contact with people, especially suspected persons.
“Early detection and reporting of suspected cases to appropriate authorities—nearest health centres to them—be it primary, secondary, or tertiary health centres.”
