The Akwa Ibom State government said yesterday that at least 18 suspected cases of monkey pox have been recorded in three communities in Mkpat Enin local government area of the state.
The state commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Uyo, said only one out of the 18 cases has been clinically confirmed.
He noted that results of five cases were still being awaited and that all the suspected cases were in three communities of Ikot Akpaden, Ikot Enin and Ndon in Mkpat Enin local government area.
The commissioner said his ministry through its public health department has activated its infectious control procedure to address the epidemic and has so far successfully confined it to the affected local government.
He said since cases of monkey pox was still prevalent in the neighbouring states, Akwa Ibom was at risk of recording new cases.
-Opeyemi Ahmed