Abia State has recorded one case of monkeypox, and the government has set up a treatment centre for the disease at its University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.
At a press briefing on this week’s Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, the capital, the commissioner for information, Okey Kanu, said the case was recorded at Isiala Ngwa local government.
“Maybe more centres as the cases break up will be opened around the state, but we don’t hope that there will be further spread of the disease in the state,” he noted.
“The good news is there is no fatality yet. And out of the 13 recorded suspected cases, only one tested positive, nine negative, while the remaining two are awaiting classification.”
Kanu, who said the meeting was chaired by the governor, Alex Otti, urged residents of the state “to maintain good personal hygiene habits and to observe social distancing where there are suspected cases.”
Speaking also, special adviser to the governor on health, Ngozi Azodo, stressed that regular personal hygiene is the best way to protect oneself from contracting the disease.
Azodo, therefore, urged the residents to minimise contact with animals, avoid self-medication, and report any suspected cases of the disease to the nearest health facility.