Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), says samples taken from the suspected cases of monkeypox virus in the state have returned negative.
Muhammad disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi, stating that the suspected cases had returned negative and, therefore, there was no cause for alarm.
READ: What You Need To Know About Monkeypox Virus
He however urged the general public to report any suspicious symptoms to health professionals to ascertain the cause in order to halt the epidemic from spreading to non-infected individuals.
Five days ago, BASPHCDA confirmed an outbreak of Monkeypox in the Bauchi, noting that one person has been diagnosed with the disease while two others were still under close observation.
Muhammad further explained that the index case was a traveler from Adamawa state who exhibited fever, intense headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle aches, and intense asthenia.
MEANWHILE, three monkeypox cases were confirmed in Gombe State on Tuesday, while 19 others were being closely observed.
Dr Habu Dahiru, the Gombe State Commissioner for Health stated this while briefing journalists in Gombe, the capital of Gombe State. He said the infected persons were all from the state capital and had already been treated and discharged.
Dahiru assured that preventive measures had been put in place to check its spread, saying: “We have 19 suspected cases in the state. Samples were collected from the suspected cases and three returned positive for monkeypox virus.
“They developed rashes on their faces and other parts of their body which prompted the suspicion of monkeypox. In the light of the above, I hereby declare the outbreak of monkeypox in Gombe State.”
Dahiru explained that monkeypox has symptoms like: fever, headaches, body pain, body weakness and lymph node swelling.
Other symptoms according to the commissioner are body rashes that start from the face and subsequently spread to other parts of the body, including palms and soles of feet. Dahiru noted that the disease can be transmitted from infected animals to humans through direct contact or body fluid and waste product of infected animals.
READ: NCDC Reports 23 Fresh Deaths, 1,479 New Infections Of COVID-19
“Also, human to human transmission occurs directly through contact with body fluids of an infected person or indirectly through contact with surfaces contaminated by a patient,” he said.
Dahiru, however, advised people to be watchful and report immediately to the nearest health facility any symptoms of the disease for prompt action by qualified medical professionals.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to imbibe good personal and environmental hygiene and to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility,” said Dahiru.
Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. it was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease appeared in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Hence the name ‘monkeypox’ emerged.
The disease has symptoms such as rashes appearing like pimples or blisters on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
Others may include; Fever, Chills, headache, lymph nodes, muscle and backache and exhaustion. However the best way to confirm is to visit the nearest health centre.
