The Enugu State Government says there is no ongoing monkey pox vaccination across the state by any group.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Fintan Ekochin, said this in a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday while reacting to rumours of forceful vaccination by the Nigerian Army.

According to him, nobody is going round doing any vaccination for monkey pox, not even by willingness let alone by force.

“It is unfortunate people have panicked and this was reflected in massive withdrawal of children from schools today (Wednesday).

Ekochin reassured the people that there was nothing to worry about as the State Government was on top of the situation.

The commissioner reiterated that there was no case of monkey pox in the state, adding that government had mounted surveillance across the state to monitor the situation.

In a related development, the Police Command in the state has urged residents of the state not to panic over the rumoured forceful vaccination of children by military personnel.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement urged members of the public to go about their normal businesses.

It was observed that parents as early as 10 a.m. scrambled to get their children out of schools, while some schools with padlock were forcefully opened and some of them have their gates damaged due to the stampede to get the children out.

According to Amaraizu, parents should not give in to antics of mischief makers who want to create panic, anxiety and fears in the minds of members of the public.

Amaraizu noted that the police operatives were on top of the situation.

“Our detectives have been sent out to ensure they arrest the rumour mills as well as those that are pushing and sponsoring this current wicked rumour that has caused panic in the metropolis today,’’ he said. (NAN)