Six M-pox cases traced to one household in Akwa Ibom

The National Orientation Agency, NOA, in Akwa Ibom State has said the government traced six Mpox cases to one household in the state.

This made the government to begin a sensitisation exercise to sensitize the people on the prevalence and prevention of Mpox disease in the state.

This is coming as a report from the Ministry of Health indicated that Akwa Ibom State recorded eight cases of the Mpox outbreak.

Speaking with newsmen on Monday, the NOA coordinator in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said the NCDC was able to trace the six cases in one household after they migrated from Onna Local Government Area of the state to Uyo, the state capital.

“In Onna LGA, about six people were afflicted in one house and those six people unfortunately had to migrate to Uyo for some unknown reasons before the NCDC was able to trace and get down here.

“I think you can see how the thing spread and Uyo now became the second place affected,” Mkpoutom said.

He further stated that the agency’s staff had been dispatched to affected councils since last week after receiving instructions from the state ministry of health.

“I am sure that you are very much aware that Akwa Ibom is having the highest cases of Mpox right now as we speak.

“So, my people have been on the field since last week when we had the instruction from the ministry of health, in partnership with the state agency on health matters.

“At least 10 local government areas are seriously affected, and some of the most affected local government areas are Uyo, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Ekpene.

At least 10 for now. The meaning is that in the whole federation, Akwa Ibom ranks high in Mpox disease,” he said.

Mkpoutom noted that in Onna Local Government Area alone, about six people were affected by the disease in one house.

He urged the people of the state to report any such cases to the nearest medical centre for treatment.