Abia State has recorded nine cases of Monkey Pox, a disease endemic to West and Central African countries.
The state’s Epidemiologist, Peace Nwogwugwu, disclosed this during a one-day sensitisation workshop on Wednesday.
The workshop is organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in collaboration with the Abia Ministry of Health.
“Currently, 40 suspected cases have been investigated and nine confirmed in five Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.
“Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano and Umunneochi local government areas had two cases each, while Aba North had one case.
“Government has ensured that all necessary outbreak response activities have been activated.
“This is to quickly contain the outbreak within the shortest period,’’ Nwogwugwu said.
The Chairperson of the NAWOJ Caretaker Committee in Abia, Oluchi Ikechukwu-Odionyenfe, said the workshop was organised so members could join in the fight against monkeypox.
Also, the state NUJ chairman, Victor Ndukwe, said it was a bold step to prevent misinterpretation of the disease.
Ndukwe commended the organisers and urged relevant agencies to increase public education about the disease in the rural areas.