Cross River confirms two new M-pox cases

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on Health, Ekpo Bassey, has confirmed that the state has recorded two new cases of M-pox.

He disclosed this during an interview with journalists on Friday in Calabar and stated that the confirmed cases were identified in Calabar Municipality LGA of the state.

M-pox, a zoonotic disease, is an emerging infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans from infected animals, most commonly rodents, and can spread from person to person.

The governor’s aide, who also serves as the Incident Manager of the Cross River M-pox Response, said the cases were detected on Monday, 21 October 2024, by the state surveillance team, and samples were sent to the National Reference Hospital, Abuja.

According to him, the results were received on Thursday, 24 October 2024, confirming the cases. Immediately, other response units were activated to manage the cases accordingly.

“Currently, both cases are stable, and we are monitoring them closely. We are also working on sensitisation and infection control to prevent further spread of the disease,” he disclosed.

He added, “The two new cases involved a boy of around 18 years from the University of Calabar (UniCal) and a baby in the Ikot Ekpo area, though the parents showed no symptoms. We are investigating how the infection occurred in both cases.

“Previously, we had recorded three cases in Calabar Municipality. We have conducted contact tracing and are monitoring all individuals who had contact with the cases,” he added.

He noted that while the cases were being managed, they would need to wait for 21 days, as the incubation period of the infection is between 21 to 25 days.

Bassey advised residents to avoid consuming improperly cooked bushmeat, maintain high personal hygiene, and remain attentive to the government’s awareness campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.