The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Akwa Ibom State has launched a public sensitisation campaign to address the spread and prevention of Mpox following a recent surge in cases.
News About Nigeria reports that the state Ministry of Health reported eight confirmed cases, placing Akwa Ibom among the states with the highest Mpox prevalence.
During a press briefing in Uyo on Monday, NOA Coordinator Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom revealed that 10 local government areas, including Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, and Ikot Ekpene, are affected.
NOA staff have been deployed across these areas since last week, under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, to educate residents on preventive measures and the importance of seeking immediate medical help if symptoms like fever, headache, boils, or skin sores appear.
Mkpoutom asked the public to avoid undercooked or dead meat and maintain hygiene. “Akwa Ibom currently has the highest Mpox cases nationwide,” he stated.
“Our team is out in the field to ensure residents understand that the disease is serious and not just a harmless rash.”
He noted that Onna LGA saw six cases in a single household, which later moved to Uyo, increasing the spread in the capital.
“We are asking people to please report cases like this. People should not assume that it is just ordinary rashes (Krokro); it is not. The disease is easily spread. It is contracted from bush meat. Initially, it was thought to have been spread by monkeys, but after conducting some research, we discovered that it is not spread by monkeys alone; even rats can spread it. When it enters a person, it spreads throughout the household.
“In Onna LGA, about six people were afflicted in one house, and those six people unfortunately had to migrate to Uyo for some unknown reason before the NCDC was able to trace them. This shows how the disease can spread, and now Uyo has become the second most affected area,” he said.
Those infected have been quarantined, and contact tracing efforts are ongoing across the state to contain further spread.
