Akwa Ibom Reports Four Confirmed Mpox Cases

Akwa Ibom State has reported four confirmed cases of monkeypox from January to August 2024. Samuel S. Etuk, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, provided this update during the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria’s Media Partnership Strengthening and Review Meeting in Uyo on Wednesday.

Etuk revealed that of the four cases, two were from Uyo, one from Nsit Ubium, and one from Onna local government areas. The affected individuals, all male, were aged 2, 4, and 15.

He explained that Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) with no specific treatment currently available.

In his talk on the “Role of the Media in Mpox Public Health Emergency Response,” Etuk emphasized the importance of preventive measures. “We have managed the confirmed cases and are promoting preventive practices like regular hand washing and seeking medical attention for symptoms, rather than self-medicating. Mpox can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with infected animals, and from human to human as well. We urge the public to be cautious and maintain personal hygiene. The media’s role in educating the public is crucial,” he said.

Nkoyo Umoh, Program Officer for Social and Behaviour Change at BA-N, encouraged the media to amplify messages about infection prevention and control. She stressed that effective media engagement is vital for improving public understanding and behavior regarding Mpox.