Skip to main content

C'River: Mpox case confirmed in Obudu community, Health Commissioner reveals

 



By Kingsley Agim 


A monkeypox (Mpox) case has been confirmed in Okoshe community in Obudu local government area of Cross River state, the Ministry of Health has revealed.


The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, made the revelation, Saturday, in Calabar, informing that a report from the National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, had confirmed a case of Mpox from Obudu in Cross River State.


Dr. Ayuk further informed that his Ministry was, on Monday 19th August, notified of a presumptive diagnosis for Mpox or Chickenpox by the State Epidemiologist of Ebonyi.


"A Sample was then sent to the national reference lab from there. The result returned Saturday, 24 August 2024, positive for Mpox and negative for Chickenpox.


"The case, a female is from Okoshe village in Obudu local government area. She was at Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki to access care," he added.


The Commissioner said that investigation about her travel history is ongoing, to ascertain  what took her primarily to Ebonyi, as there is no medical history or referral from Obudu. 


"While the investigation of the travel history of the case is ongoing, the state government is responding actively to mitigate any outbreak in Obudu," he assured.


Ayuk said he has directed the Mpox Emergency Operation Center to be activated immediately, with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo as the Incident Manager.


He also directed that mitigation activities by the Obudu local government area response team with support from the State team to commence immediately. 


Some of these mitigation measures, the Commissioner mentioned, include Line-listing of symptomatic contacts; quarantine of close/symptomatic contacts at General Hospital Sankwala - Obanliku; sample collection from    symptomatic contacts, immediate movement of samples to the State hub, sensitization on preventive measures and awareness at churches,  schools, communities and immediate movement of commodities to General Hospital Sankwala, among others.


As a long term measure to check any spread of the disease, Ayuk notified that plans are underway for monthly financial support to surveillance teams in the LGAs for active case search at health facilities and communities across the State, supportive supervision by the State and LGA teams, Establishment and equipment of an isolation ward in all government hospitals and positioning of case management, provision of infection prevention and control commodities in all LGAs, as well as health promotion and advocacy on personal hygiene.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BREAKING NEWS: Youths of Ikot Ansa Nab Vandals Destroying Public Utilities, Hand Over to Authorities for Prosecution

  In a combined effort to curb the rampant vandalism of public utilities in Cross River State, the youth leader of Ikot Ansa, Prince, Victor Otu Iso JR, alongside his community, successfully apprehended criminals involved in the destruction of vital public infrastructure. The vandals were caught red-handed this morning, 13th day of September 2024, as they attempted to steal Amor cables belonging to state transformers at Ekpo Iso. Acting swiftly, the youth leader invited the Special Adviser on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe KSM, and his counterpart on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, to the scene. The Special Advisers arrived promptly, accompanied by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Federal Division, and took custody of the criminals. The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation and prosecution. While addressing the youths of Ikot Ansa, Engr. Dr. Egbe and Barr. Akiba commended their

Chevron Opens Employment Portal for New Applicants

  Chevron, a leading multinational energy corporation, has officially launched its employment portal, inviting qualified applicants from across the country to apply for various job openings. This move is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to create job opportunities and invest in local talent. According to Converseer , the open portal provides opportunities in various fields, including engineering, project management, finance, human resources, and operations. Candidates are encouraged to apply online by visiting the official Chevron employment portal, where they can submit their applications, upload relevant documents, and monitor the status of their submissions. Chevron’s initiative comes at a time when job creation is a top priority for both private and public sectors, aiming to reduce unemployment rates in the country. The company is looking for candidates who are innovative, team-oriented, and committed to achieving excellence in their respective fields. Interested applicants

Mass Communication Alumni: Class of 2006-2010, Donate Public Address System, Lecterns to Unicross Mass Communication Department

The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Mass Communication Alumni, Class of 2006-2010, have donated a Public Address System and two lecterns to the Department of Mass Communication.  This philanthropic act underscores the alumni’s dedication to enhancing educational resources and supporting the development of the institution that played a pivotal role in their formative years. The donation ceremony took place on Monday, July 29, 2024, at the office of the Head of the Department of Mass Communication.  During the event, Mr. Usani Ebri Omini, President of the 2006-2010 Alumni Association, expressed the collective sentiment of his peers. "Our time in the department was transformative, and although we lost some colleagues along the way, those experiences shaped who we are today," he said. "We are a young association, but today marks the beginning of our journey to give back. We are committed to supporting the Mass Communication Department continuously." Mr. O