The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike says that the state is yet to record any confirmed case of Mpox virus.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has declared Mpox to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
MPox, formerly called monkey pox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals and its symptoms include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.
According to the Health Commissioner, some states that border Anambra, including Delta, Ebonyi and Abia have all recorded confirmed cases of the viral disease and revealed that all the suspected cases in Anambra whose samples were taken have returned negative.
Dr. Obidike explained that Anambra has introduced its emergency response teams since the inception of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration which has helped immensely in early detection of outbreaks and intervention.
He further revealed that there are also health informants and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all the three hundred and twenty-six wards in the State which have been equally activated.
The Anambra Health Commissioner assured that the State is ready and currently improving on all areas, especially in the area of surveillance and has also notified public and private hospitals to create holding areas for isolation of suspected cases of Mpox.
Dr. Obidike explained that his ministry has intensified risk communication through mass sensitization methods to educate the people on how to prevent and identify one suffering from the disease.
He advised Ndi Anambra to also embrace personal hygiene, ensure prompt reporting of cases and healthcare personnel taking the required precaution after attending to patients.
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