Two suspected cases of monkeypox were reported in a few local governments in the South-East state, according to the Anambra state government.

Dr. Afam Obidike, the commissioner for health, also revealed that one of the cases has been confirmed as positive. He listed some of the affected local governments as Anambra East, Onitsha, and Oyi.

He continued by saying that the state’s emergency preparedness and response team had put in place the necessary surveillance measures to stop the disease’s spread.

Obidike said:-

“Few weeks ago, two suspected cases of monkey pox were reported in Anambra East, Onitsha and Oyi Local Government Areas. The case from Anambra East was confirmed positive and is currently receiving treatment at the isolation centre of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi.

“In light of the above, Governor Charles Soludo has declared the incident an outbreak, and an emergency preparedness and response committee meeting was convened on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by relevant stakeholders, including World Health Organisation (WHO) team and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF); they are providing necessary assistance to the state.

“Planning for immediate response to the outbreak and surveillance, laboratory, case management, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control and safe burial pillars were also activated.”