Not less than 10 persons have been quarantined and another 49 under surveillance in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital following the outbreak of Monkeypox in the State. The victims are being quarantined in an Isolation Centre at the Niger Delta Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State.
The Isolation Centre was created by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the epidemiological team of the State’s Ministry of Health at the outbreak of the epidemic.
The NCDC and the epidemiological team are reported to be tracking 49 others suspected to have contact with the infected persons.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, who confirmed the development, added that samples have been sent to the World Health Organization (WHO), laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation.
He described Monkeypox as a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and smallpox, adding that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequent outbreaks in West African region.
He also explained that the Monkeypox is of two types; Central African and West African adding that the latter is milder and has no recorded cases of mortality.
“Recently in Bayelsa, we noticed a suspected outbreak of monkeypox. It has not been confirmed. We have sent samples to the World Health Organisation reference laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.
“When that comes out we will be sure that it is confirmed. But from all indications, it points towards it.
“As the name implies, the virus was first seen in monkeys, but can also be found in all bush animals such as rats, squirrels and antelopes.
“So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious.”
He listed the symptoms to include severe headache, fever, back pains, amongst others, noting that most worrisome of all the signs are rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox which is usually frightening and usually spread to the whole body of infected persons.
“We noticed the first index case from Agbura, where somebody was purported to have killed and eaten a monkey. After that, the person’s family members and neighbors began developing the rashes.
“We have seen cases from as far as Biseni. We invited the NCDC together with our own epidemiological team from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health. We have been able to trace most of the people who have come in contact with the patients.
“So far, we have 10 patients and we have created an isolation center at the NDUTH and most of them are on admission and we are following up the 49 cases that we are suspecting might come down with the illness. As a state we are taking care of all the expenses of all the isolated cases.
“The disease has an incubation period and it is also self-limiting in the sense that within two to four weeks, you get healed and it confers you with immunity for life.
“We have mobilized virtually every arsenal at our disposal in terms of sensitizing the general public and making them aware by radio program, jingles and fliers. So the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has mobilized fully to Bayelsa State. We are on top the situation,” Dr. Etebu said.
He therefore urged the public to be vigilant, observe hygiene practice and report suspected cases to appropriate authorities.
The following are ways to prevent Monkeypox:
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Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after any contact with animal or object that could be contaminated.
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Avoid contact with animals that could harbour the virus
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Remove infected animals away from the vicinity to avoid contact with humans.
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Contact relevant authorities if you come in contact or suspect any case of the virus
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Suspected persons should be isolated and quarantined to avoid the disease being spread.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be used by those administering treatments to patients.
