Abia state has recorded nine cases of monkeypox.
Mrs. Peace Nwogwugwu, the state’s epidemiologist, made the announcement on Wednesday in the state capital, Umuahia.
She spoke at the one-day sensitization workshop organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in collaboration with Abia Ministry of Health.
“Currently, 40 suspected cases have been investigated and nine confirmed in five Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.
“Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano and Umunneochi local government areas had two cases each, while Aba North had one case.
“Government has ensured that all necessary outbreak response activities have been activated. This is to quickly contain the outbreak within the shortest period,’’ Nwogwugwu said.
Mrs. Oluchi Ikechukwu-Odionyenfe, the Chairperson of NAWOJ Caretaker Committee in Abia, in her speech, said the workshop was organized so that NAWOJ members could join the fight against monkeypox.
NUJ chairman in Abia, Mr. Victor Ndukwe, also addressed the workshop and said it was a bold step to prevent distortion of the disease.
Ndukwe praised the organisers and urged relevant agencies to increase public education about the disease, especially in rural areas.
