Delta state government has discharged two suspected monkepox victims after they have been treated at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba.
The Delta State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge disclosed this in Asaba yesterday stating that one suspected victims of the dreaded monkey pox virus in the five cases recently reported in the state has been quarantined
Dr. Azinge disclosed that of the five cases reported at the Federal Medical Centre, four were from Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local council and one from Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Council.
He said that two cases have been treated and discharged having responded to treatments which he said was a pointer to the fact that the discharged cases were not monkey pox.
He assured residents of the state of government’s preparedness to tackle the issue of monkeypox as the State’s Response Team has been place on alert in terms of disease surveillance.
Azinge noted that there is need to visit hospitals handling patients who have similar symptoms of monkey pox with the view to getting first hand information on the cases and how the hospitals were coping.
He said that the victim who tested positive has been quarantined while the tracking of the persons who may have been in contact with him is in earnest.
He disclosed that blood samples of suspected cases have been sent for Laboratory test in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation and that until the test results are released, one cannot prove if they were monkey pox or not.
He urged Deltans to be calm and report suspected symptoms of the virus to the nearest health facility rather than relying on self medications.
According to him, members of the State Rapid Response Team are very much on ground and are prepared to tackle any outbreak of any form of disease, and reminded the health care givers to always follow the laid down protocol and how to attend to suspected cases.
Azinge urged the public to desist from consuming rodents (squirrel, rabbit, rats etc) and primates (animals of the monkey family).
“Meats should be properly cooked before eating, regular and proper hand washing with soap, minimize contacts with persons with money pox virus, body fluids of suspected sufferers are all prevention mechanism that should be adopted by all,” he advised.
At Owa-Alero General Hospital, Dr. Okechukwu Ugochukwu, a Medical Doctor in the hospital who on behalf of the Medical Director, Dr. Usama Ejiro Hannah, took the commissioner and his entourage to the suspected case explained that he saw six cases which were more of chicken pox and added that they were treated and discharge apart from a 56 year old woman whose case progressed due to the challenge of raising fund by the family.