The disclosure, penultimate week, by the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk, that an Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) case has been discovered in Okoshe community in Obudu Local Government Area of the state was to a large extent a shocking discovery, even to the health officials in the state.

Discovery

According to the Commissioner, a report from the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed that a woman from that community, having travelled to Abakaliki and fallen ill, was taken to Federal Medical Centre in the Ebonyi State capital and was discovered to have come down with the infection after examination.

He disclosed that his office was subsequently notified of a presumptive diagnosis for Mpox or Chickenpox by the Ebonyi State Epidemiologist.

His words: “A sample was then sent to the National Reference Lab from there. The result returned Saturday, August 24, 2024, positive for Mpox and negative for Chickenpox. “The case, a female, is from Okoshe village in Obudu Local Government Area. She was at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki to access care.”

The commissioner said that investigation about her travel history was ongoing, to ascertain what took her primarily to Ebonyi, as there is no medical history or referral from Obudu. In addition to this case, two cases were reported in Calabar Municipality LGA.

According to the state Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, the case management team have been informed for urgent evacuation of the two cases to an isolation centre while the state/LGA RRT have also commenced contact tracing, listing, and monitoring to avoid further spread. He, however, disclosed that financial resources are urgently needed for response activities.

Reaction

Following this development, the commissioner noted that the state government has swung into action to checkmate the situation so as to avoid spread in the Okoshe community and state wide by taking the necessary steps. “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 Centre 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 disclosed include linelisting 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, sensitisation 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 possible spread of the disease, Ayuk revealed that plans were underway for monthly financial support to surveillance teams in the LGAs for active case search at health facilities and communities across the state.

Other measures noted by him include 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. Clear departure from COVID-19 era.

The admittance of the case and prompt disclosure of it to the public and putting in place mechanisms to address it and avoid further spread, is according to the people and health experts in the state, a commendable development, which is a clear departure from the government’s reaction and handling of COVID-19 outbreak in the state.

When COVID-19 outbreak was reported in the state, the government was said to have denied it and attempted to cover it up and shrouded the epidemic in secrecy.

Even when the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had listed the state as one of those in the country then with people infected with the disease, health officials in the state vehemently denied it until it became clear that, indeed, COVID-19 was prevalent.

The state government and Commissioner for Health, Ayuk’s prompt response and actions were lauded this time for not allowing the escalation of the disease. The quick intervention and mitigation plans put in place to cushion the effect of the disease on the victim were also appreciated by the people.

Sensitisation

However, now that we know the state has recorded an Mpox victim, several steps must be taken to either halt its spread or reduce it.

While one acknowledges the efforts of the state health team in checkmating its spread and taking measures to confront the known case, health experts noted that it is high time a lot of sensitisation efforts are undertaken to get the public to understand the dangers of unhealthy lifestyle.

Such sensitisation efforts should include, but certainly not limited to; avoiding close contact with anyone who has a rash or other symptoms of Mpox as well as washing of hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly. The use of hand sanitizers, where water and soap are not readily available is also important.

The public should also be made aware of the need to avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, bedding, or clothing. For those who travel out of the country, the need to check travel advisories becomes imperative in order to know the countries where Mpox has been reported. Avoiding contact with animals, especially rodents while travelling is important as well.

For sexual precaution, there is a mandatory need to use condoms with any strange female partner who is not your spouse or regular sex partner and the need to limit sexual partners to reduce the risk of transmission. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated are also advised.

Importantly, vaccination plays a key role where there is high risk of exposure or one has been exposed to the virus. Experts have also advised those with severe headache, pains in the muscles or back and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin should go for a thorough test for timely investigation and treatment.