Two instances of monkey pox have been confirmed in Osun State.
The 2 instances, authorities sources revealed, had been confirmed in Ilesa West Native Authorities Space of the state.
Confirming the outbreak of the illness on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State Commissioner for Well being, Jola Akintola, urged residents to not panic however assured that the state authorities is actively managing the scenario.
Akintola emphasised that M-pox is a preventable illness.
The commissioner made this assertion throughout a gathering of the Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre, EOC Pillar, held on the Ministry of Well being in Osogbo.
Whereas reassuring residents that there was no trigger for worry, Akintola stated: “We efficiently managed COVID-19 and prevented a cholera outbreak. Now, with two confirmed M-pox instances, the EOC has been activated, and stakeholders will meet each Monday to strategize on stopping the unfold of the virus.”
The commissioner disclosed that Osun has solely seen two instances within the final 34 weeks, in comparison with tons of in different states.
“There isn’t any trigger for alarm. Our officers are absolutely ready, and simply as we prevented cholera, we may even stop the unfold of monkey pox,” he stated.
The Particular Adviser to the Governor on Public Well being, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, assured that the governor is dedicated to sustaining the state’s proactive measures.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Omolola Adeagbo, offered a scenario report on M-pox.
Adeagbo revealed {that a} complete of 47 suspected instances had been recorded from EPI Week 1 to Week 34 throughout 13 Native Authorities Areas.
“All 47 samples had been despatched to the laboratory, with two confirmed instances, each involving male sufferers aged 5 and 25 from Ilesa West,” he stated.
Dr. Adeagbo additionally outlined the actions taken, together with the deployment of Speedy Response Workforce, RRT, members to the sphere, advocacy and sensitisation efforts within the Ogbon Alafia group and on the index case’s residence, in addition to group lively case search and retroactive well being facility search.
The confirmed instances have been linked to the state hospital in Ilesa West.
Of their contributions, the State Coordinator for the World Well being Group, WHO, Dr. Ojediran Oluwatoyin, and the State Coordinator for UNICEF, Israel Solomon, emphasised that whereas there may be at the moment no vaccine for M-pox within the nation, the state ought to proceed its sensitisation efforts throughout all native governments and strengthen surveillance and group engagement.
DAILY POST recalled that the state authorities final week alerted residents to the illness.
An announcement from the state authorities suggested residents of the state to be vigilant towards the illness.
The federal government additionally urged them to report any suspicious signs to the suitable authorities for immediate.
