…Rivers Govt.on red alert
…No cause for alarm-Bayelsa Govt.
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers state government has activated its health rapid response team in all the major hospitals and health centres in the 23 local government areas of the state to be on the high alert due to the heavy human traffic between Rivers and Bayelsa state where the outbreak of the Monkey pox has been reported.
The Rivers state Commissioner for Health Prof. Princewill Chike while giving an update on the readiness of the state to checkmate the spread of the disease in the state said no case has been reported in Rivers yet but warned residents to take adequate health precautions like observance of personal hygiene and abstinence from the consumption of wild animals, popularly “bushmeat”
Lastest reports from Bayelsa State is the assurance by the Government there is no cause for alarm following the recent outbreak of a new viral disease known as ‘monkey pox’ which has affected a medical doctor and ten others.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson who stated this in a statement, said the government is on top of the situation, as it is working with medical and other health experts to contain the disease.
The statement explained that, through the proactive efforts of the government two out of the ten people infected with the disease are now responding well to medical care.
The Commissioner disclosed that, the affected persons are being quarantined in an isolation centre created at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri in Yenagoa local government area of the state.
Iworiso-Markson maintained that, the epidemiological team of the state’s Ministry of Health are working round the clock to stop the spread of the disease and ensure it is brought under full control.
The commissioner, who reiterated that samples of the virus, had been sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, for confirmation urged residents to report any suspected case to health authorities, noting that, the virus is milder and has no records of mortality.
He described as sad the way and manner the incident has been blown out of proportion, especially on the social media, which he stressed does not in any way reflect the true situation.
The government spokesman also stressed that, the present administration of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson is fully committed to ensure that, everyone in the state is safe and healthy and called on those living outside the state to disregard the negative publicity about the disease.
Monkey Pox is a viral disease caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox, and the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The symptoms of the disease are severe headache, fever and back pain amongst others, while the most visible signs are rashes bigger.
Federal Ministry of Health has told Nigerians to avoid the consumption of monkeys, bush meat and dead animal as doing so could expose one to the risk of Monkey Pox disease.
In Bayelsa State, a medical doctor and no fewer than 10 persons have reportedly been quarantined as a result of the virus.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, gave the advice in a statement by the Director, Media and Public Relations in the ministry, Boade Akinola, on Thursday
According to the minister, the disease neither had a cure nor a vaccine, noting, however, that there was no cause for alarm as it was mild.
The statement read in part, “He (Adewole) said the virus was mild and there was no known treatment and no preventive vaccines , hence the public should be at alert and avoid crowded places as much as possible.
“He advised the public to avoid eating dead animals, bushmeat and particularly bush monkeys.”
The minister also revealed that test samples had been sent to the World Health Organisation (laboratory ) in Senegal but the result was still being awaited.
He, however, called on Nigerians, who had symptoms of fever, back pain and rashes resembling chicken pox, to report to the hospital.
It added, “The symptoms include headache, fever, back pains and in advanced cases, rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox.”