MPOX cases in Benue rise to 20, many treated, discharged – State govt

The number of confirmed cases of Monkeypox disease in Benue State has risen to 20, as four new samples returned positive.

This was disclosed to newsmen in Makurdi by the State Epidemiologist, Dr Asema Msuega.

He said the confirmed cases are from two local government areas of the state, Makurdi and Gwer West while the suspected cases cut across five local government areas of Ushongo, Katsina-Ala, Gboko, Makurdi and Gwer West.

Dr Msuega added that the most recent is from Gwer East with samples already sent to the laboratory.

He added that three confirmed cases had initially been treated and discharged from the isolation centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, adding that the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday from the reference laboratory.

According to him, “the patient is still in an isolation centre and receiving treatment but responding well.

Many of the suspected cases have also come out of isolation. It’s not every case that we take to the hospital for isolation, we advise some to self-isolate at home just like we did during the outbreak of COVID-19.

“We are creating massive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease and to imbibe basic prevention and control measures including washing hands, to avoid unnecessary contact with people, especially suspected persons.

“Early detection and reporting of suspected cases to appropriate authorities – nearest health centres to them – be it primary, secondary or tertiary health centres.”