An outbreak of Mpox has been reported in Benue State, with 31 suspected cases recorded across five Local Government Areas (LGAs): Makurdi, Ushongo, Gwer East, Katsina-Ala, and Guma.
Grace Wende, the executive secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, made this known on Thursday during the Benue State Stakeholders Engagement/Townhall Meeting on the Mpox Vaccination Rollout. She confirmed that seven of the suspected cases have been verified.
Represented by the State Immunization Officer (SIO), Mr. Emmanuel Adega, she gave a breakdown of the suspected cases: 10 in Makurdi, eight in Katsina-Ala, seven in Gwer East, four in Guma, and two in Ushongo.
According to her, “Of the figures, we have confirmed one case in Gwer East, two cases in Katsina-Ala, three cases in Makurdi, and one case in Guma LGAs. These cases were recorded in June, and samples were collected and taken to the laboratory. The results were released in July.”
“As we speak, we have line-listed all the people who came in contact with the confirmed cases. Their names have been taken for vaccination after monitoring them for 43 days, and they did not come down with the disease,” she added.
She emphasized that the Mpox vaccination campaign would not be carried out across the entire state, but would be focused on communities deemed at risk of an outbreak.
She also urged all stakeholders to support the vaccination initiative and promptly report any suspected cases to enable health authorities to respond swiftly.
Victor Olaniyi, a Social and Behaviour Change Health Consultant with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), also spoke at the meeting, explaining that “Mpox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and other animals.”
He described the symptoms as “rashes that form blisters and then crust over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.”
Olaniyi warned that Mpox could spread easily, but reassured the public that the vaccines were safe. He said the limited number of vaccines allocated to the state necessitated targeting specific communities for the rollout.
He explained further that the vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use, would be given to persons aged 18 years and above.
“The vaccine is safe, effective, and free. Two doses are required for full protection. We must also continue to practice hygiene and avoid contact with people showing symptoms of Mpox,” he said.