Osun confirms two cases of monkey pox

Two cases of monkey pox have been confirmed in Osun State.

The two cases, government sources revealed, were confirmed in Ilesa West Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the outbreak of the disease on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, urged residents not to panic but assured that the state government is actively managing the situation.

Akintola emphasised that M-pox is a preventable disease.

The commissioner made this statement during a meeting of the Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre, EOC Pillar, held at the Ministry of Health in Osogbo.

While reassuring residents that there was no cause for fear, Akintola said: “We successfully managed COVID-19 and prevented a cholera outbreak. Now, with two confirmed M-pox cases, the EOC has been activated, and stakeholders will meet every Monday to strategize on preventing the spread of the virus.”

The commissioner disclosed that Osun has only seen two cases in the last 34 weeks, compared to hundreds in other states.

“There is no cause for alarm. Our officers are fully prepared, and just as we prevented cholera, we will also prevent the spread of monkey pox,” he said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, assured that the governor is committed to sustaining the state’s proactive measures.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Omolola Adeagbo, provided a situation report on M-pox.

Adeagbo revealed that a total of 47 suspected cases were recorded from EPI Week 1 to Week 34 across 13 Local Government Areas.

“All 47 samples were sent to the laboratory, with two confirmed cases, both involving male patients aged 5 and 25 from Ilesa West,” he said.

Dr. Adeagbo also outlined the actions taken, including the deployment of Rapid Response Team, RRT, members to the field, advocacy and sensitisation efforts in the Ogbon Alafia community and at the index case’s residence, as well as community active case search and retroactive health facility search.

The confirmed cases have been linked to the state hospital in Ilesa West.

In their contributions, the State Coordinator for the World Health Organization, WHO, Dr. Ojediran Oluwatoyin, and the State Coordinator for UNICEF, Israel Solomon, emphasised that while there is currently no vaccine for M-pox in the country, the state should continue its sensitisation efforts across all local governments and strengthen surveillance and community engagement.

DAILY POST recalled that the state government last week alerted residents to the disease.

A statement from the state government advised residents of the state to be vigilant against the disease.

The government also urged them to report any suspicious symptoms to the appropriate authorities for prompt.