The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Monkey pox

  • MonkeyPox: Panic as parents withdraw children from public schools in Edo

    MonkeyPox: Panic as parents withdraw children from public schools in Edo

    There was confusion in some public and private schools in Benin City, the Edo State capital as parents stormed various schools to forcefully take their children and wards home.

    It was gathered that the panic started at Army Day Secondary in Oregbeni quarters when some parents heard that the Nigeria Army was carrying out vaccination exercise.

    The parents said they were told that the MonkeyPox virus was being injected into the students.

    Sources at the school said denial by the school authorities did not stop parents from taking their children away.

    At Idia College, rumours that three students die of Monkeypox infection made parents  rushed to the school to take their children home.

    In some primary schools like Olua and Emokpae, the school authorities locked parents out and refused to open the gate.

    The school authorities simply told the parents to return during closing hours to pick up their children.

    There was also attempts by parents to take their children away from Oghosa High School, Edokpolor Grammar School, Crystal Fountain Group of School and Olua  Primary School.

    One of the parents who identified herself simply as Mrs. Chiazor said: “I came to school because I heard that the killer vaccines are already at the Oredo local government secretariat for onward transmission to schools.”

    When asked where she got the information, Mrs. Chiazor replied: it’s on radio. Children also died in Anambra after they were vaccinated.”

    Edo Police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the rush by parents to take away their children said there was no vaccination exercise in schools in the state.

    Nkombe warned parents to stop acting on fake information from the social media.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Communication and Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said there was no reported case of Monkeypox infection in the state.

    Crusoe said steps have been taken to tackle the disease if there was any occurrence.

    He said there was no vaccination exercise currently going on in the state.

  • Monkey Pox Fake News: It’s a set up by IPOB against the Igbos, group alleges

    The Igbo for Nigeria Movement, INM, hasfingered the outlawed Independent People of Biafra [IPOB] to be responsible for the reports in some quarters that the Medical Outreach of Operation Python Dance II by the Nigerian Army is to plant monkey pox viruses in some children, describing it as another wicked attempt to set Igbo people against the Nigerian Army and other members of the Nigerian State.
    Reacting to the development, INM said the circulation of the rumour has portrayed Ndigbo as unthinking and shallow-minded people who cannot differentiate between reality and fiction.

    Addressing newsmen on Tuesday on the report, national president of INM, Mazi Ifeanyi Igwe observed that the fact on ground showed that the larger population of the South East are law abiding citizens with very cordial relationship with the military and all security agencies in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Army., adding that only those with criminal intent which the Army has thwarted are pained and out to use anything possible being it outright falsehood or blackmail to discredit the Army.
    He said, “We want to appeal to Ndigbo to decisively deal with the IPoB problem as it has been established that this criminal lies emanated from the terror group. Even as the damage is unfolding, Emma Powerful, the supposed spokesperson of IPoB continues to make inflammatory remarks, which were sadly reported by some mainstream media that ignored the fact that his group is a designated terror organization.

    “Unfortunately, IPoB is laying the groundworks to kill and destroy more Igbo people than any security agency could have ever done even if they had mounted a coordinated genocidal campaign against the southeast geo-political zone. This is a concern that is backed up by logic:
    “The IPoB lies has practically shut down schools. Emma Powerful asked teachers and pupils to stay at home until Operation Python Dance II leaves the southeast. This is going to disrupt education calendar in Igbo areas and this will leave our students at disadvantage since the other parts of the country would not pause their calendar for the southeast. Since Operation Python Dance is now poised to be an annual event are we going to be shutting down our school every year while other regions make progress?
    “Should Monkey Pox evolve into an epidemic that requires mass vaccination the lies and rumours that have spread like wildfire will prevent people from accepting life saving inoculations and treatment. This could cause casualty on a catastrophic scale. Let us be reminded that some parts of the country only a few weeks ago have to get vaccinated for cholera. The vaccines were shipped and conveyed by people in the South that included Igbo yet persons of northern ethnicities that received the vaccines did not wrongly accuse or fear the Igbo even at a time IPoB’s hate speech was at its vilest. The lies have set up our people to die needlessly should there be a national health emergency.
    “While IPoB’s lies may serve its immediate propaganda goal, it will create a new generation of vaccine deniers in the long term. We only need to take a cue from the impact of the anti-vaccines movements in the United States; they rely on the kind of rumours being spread in Nigeria now to push their agenda but the impact of the follies is being felt by way of resurfacing of diseases that the US had once eradicate while children are dying needlessly. Unless something is urgently done we are at risk of babies dying while those that survive would do so with the ravages of diseases like polio that vaccines could have easily dealt with. We will also bear the burden of staring afresh to roll back any eradicated disease that resurfaces as a result.
    “If our Hausa-Fulani brothers or any other ethnic group for that matter are resolute on decimating the Igbo as Emma Powerful is lying they will easily achieve that by tampering with our food sources since Nigeria’s food chain is heavily interconnected. The southeast does not produce all the meat, fish, grains and tubers it consumes and these are items that can be tampered with or bioengineered to deliver pestilence. It is therefore unkind to accuse others of what we are incapable of,” he added.
    Igwe called on state and federal governments to take immediate steps to stop further propagation of the lies by getting legal interpretation on IPoB’s continuing capacity to issue statements as an already-labeled terror group.

    He said, “The court order that designated IPoB as a terror group also outlawed its activities which leaves us at a loss of why a terrorist under the name of Emma Powerful continues to freely operate with the group’s name without being arrested. He should be immediately arrested.
    “Our hope is that the Nigerian Army would remain on standby with its Operation Python Dance II Medical Outreach to cater for those in need of medical attention once the lies making the rounds have been properly exposed.”

  • Monkey pox: FG confirms 33 cases in seven states

    Monkey pox: FG confirms 33 cases in seven states

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday said that there are so far 33 suspected cases of monkey pox in the country.

    The cases,  he said, were discovered in seven states including Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun, and Cross River.

    He spoke with State House correspondences at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, there is no reported case of death from the decease.

  • Monkey pox: Senate seeks proactive measures to combat disease

    Monkey pox: Senate seeks proactive measures to combat disease

    •Reps summon health minister

    THE Senate has urged the Federal Government to be proactive in containing and preventing the spread of monkey pox disease.

    Monkey pox disease is a rare and infectious disease caused by monkey virus, transmitted from animals to human and with symptoms similar to those of smallpox.

    The first incident of the disease was reported on September 22 in Bayelsa State and it has also spread to some states.

    The Senate said the Federal Government’s measures could be undertaken through state and local governments.

    The lawmakers also advocated enlightenment of citizens about measures that could be taken to mitigate risk factors of exposure to the virus.

    They called for proper liaison by the Federal Government with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other relevant donor agencies for contingencies against eventualities.

    The call followed the adoption of a motion on “Urgent need for pro-active steps to nip in the bud reported outbreak of monkey pox disease in Nigeria” by Senator Ali Wakili (APC-Bauchi) at plenary.

    Presenting the motion, Wakili said the infection resulted from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and mucosal lesions of infected animals.

    He said similarly, human infections had also been documented through the handling of infected monkeys, rats and squirrels with rodents being the major reservoir of the virus.

    Contributing, Senator Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) said there was need for proactive measures to be put in place to tackle the disease.

    The resolutions were adopted by all the lawmakers after a voice vote raised by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    But the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole over the outbreak of the disease.

    The minister is to explain to the lawmakers “the alarming situation of how a country as vast and resources as Nigeria will depend on a laboratory in Dakar, Senegal to analyse samples at such a critical time of national health crisis”.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Diri Douye, titled: “Suspected outbreak of monkey pox in Bayelsa State – Urgent need for free detail government intervention and international community support.”

    The lawmaker said since the disease broke out in Bayelsa, it has spread into other states in the region “notably Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in spite of the concerted efforts of the Bayelsa State Government.”

    He expressed shock at the admission of the Minister of Health that “monkey pox could not be confirmed in Nigeria until laboratory investigations by World Health Organisation (WHO) referral laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.”

    The House called on the Federal Government to provide financial as well as logistical support to the Bayelsa State Government to reach out to threatened water licked communities.

    Also, the House mandated its Committees on Health Services to investigate and report back within two weeks for further legislative action were mandated to investigate.

     

    Ekiti confirms two cases as resident doctors begins strike

     

    Two suspected cases of monkey pox have been recorded in Ekiti State, according to Secretary to the State Government Dr. Dupe Alade

    Dr. Alade spoke at a news conference to herald activities marking the third anniversary of the Ayo Fayose administration.

    This came as the state chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) embarked on a three-day warning strike to press home their demand for the payment of six months arrears of pay.

    Mrs. Alade, in sounding the monkey pox alarm, urged residents to take all necessary precautions, regularly wash their hands and beware of what they eat.

    According to her, the suspected victims of the dreaded disease were discovered in Okemesi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area. The community is located on the boundary with Osun State.

    The SSG explained that the victims have been quarantined and their blood samples taken to Abuja for laboratory tests.

    Ekiti ARD, in a statement signed by its President, Dr. Tunji Olaoye, explained that the industrial action became necessary as life has become unbearable for doctors, who are being owed six months.

     

    Panic in Ondo as woman was bitten by monkey

     

    The alleged bitten of an unknown middle-aged woman by monkey in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State was caused anxiety yesterday in the area.

    It was learnt that the woman was allegedly ‘chopped’ by a monkey she was feeding last Saturday as her domestic pet.

    Sources said the woman was not taken the situation seriously until Sunday evening when she started feeling some pains.

    One of the residents around said they had thought it was a whitlow as the spot was developing some blisters.

    He said: “When the woman started complaining, her friends and family then advised her to visit a nearby health centre for treatment or minor surgery.

    “When she got to the health centre, one of the nurses who attended to her thought it was a whitlow and wanted to operate it but there was no surgical blade in the health facility.

    “It was brought to the notice of the matron, who noticed that the affected part was more of a bite than whitlow. The lady now revealed that she was bitten by a monkey, she keeps as pet.”

    It was learnt that the matron in charge of the health centre immediately referred the woman to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, for further treatment.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, however, said there was no case of monkey pox in the state.

    He said residents should remain calm, stressing that the ministry of health had put its surveillance units at alert across the 18 local government areas.

     

    Edo begins 24 hours

    surveillance

     

    Edo State Government said it has commenced 24 hours surveillance against any possible outbreak of monkey pox.

    It said there was no recorded case of the disease.

    Director of Disease Control Dr. Irowa Osamwonyi, who spoke in an interview with reporters, said there was nothing to worry about the outbreak of the disease.

     

    Ogun: we have no infection

     

    Ogun State has debunked the presence of cases of monkey pox.

    This was against the reports of the National Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, that the state was among the states being affected by the disease.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Babatunde Ipaye spoke at a news briefing in his office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

  • No monkey pox in Ogun – Govt

    No monkey pox in Ogun – Govt

    Ogun State government said on Tuesday there is no case of monkey pox in the state and described as shocking a report credited to Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), listing the state as one of the states affected by the disease.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Babatunde Ipaye, told journalists in Abeokuta there is no case of monkey pox in the state.

    He blamed the report on overzealous official of the state who informed the Federal Ministry of Health when the case has not been properly examined.

    The commissioner said the particular officer from the state hospital in Ijebu Ode only noticed a skin lesion on a patient at the hospital and reported the case to NCDC.

    He said the appearance of rashes on the patient was not suggestive of a monkey pox, adding that no due process was followed before the case was reported.

    Ipaye said: “It was very surprising as the state commissioner for health and the chief epidemiologist of the state to hear that Ogun State was listed among states with cases of monkey pox. We have not recorded any confirmed case of monkey pox in the state, Ogun State doesn’t have a single case.

    “Yes, there was an overzealous officer of the ministry who saw somebody with skin lesion in state hospital, Ijebu Ode and unfortunately called the Federal Ministry of Health and incidented suspected case.

    “Any patient in the category of that patient that was incidented cannot be considered as a suspected case because the patient has another primary problem that can give rise to skin lesion, that is not a suspected case.

    “Further questioning was even very revealing that the skin lesion the patient had was not even pathognomonic of monkey pox, it was not suggestive of monkey pox but more of another skin lesion and the screening negates the entire report itself.

    “We are not averse to reporting one, if there is a case.  We are not willing to cover up a case but we must also not sent people panicking for things that we do not have.”

  • 31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

    31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

    Monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos.

    There are 31 cases, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said yesterday.

    NCDC National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu listed the states as Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Cross River.

    He said   samples had been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation.

    Said Ihekweazu: “It is unlikely that many of the    suspected cases are actually monkey pox, but all are being    investigated.”

    He said all the suspected   cases were receiving medical    care and the patients improving clinically in their    various states.

    Ihekweazu said the centre    had activated an Emergency    Operation Centre (EOC)    to    coordinate the outbreak    investigation and response    across the affected states.    “The EOC is currently supporting    state    ministries    of Health in their response to the outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. Measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and    testing to enable laboratory    confirmation. Risk communication activities have been    heightened to advise the    public on preventive measures. All 36 states and the    FCT have been notified for    preparedness,” he explained.

    The Lagos State Government confirmed yesterday that it had recorded two suspected cases and appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris told reporters that the two suspected cases were being investigated.

    “Though no confirmed case has been recorded, there is need to sensitise members of the public and provide adequate information on measures for prevention and control of the disease in line with the policy of the state government,” he said.

    Idris said the two suspected cases were recorded in a private hospital which he did not name.

    He added that one of the suspected cases just came from Bayelsa State and ate bush meat.

    Idris said the two suspected cases had been quarantined in their various houses pending the result of the investigation.

    The commissioner said in the wake of this outbreak, the government was reiterating the need for members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease to the State.

    He urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest public health facility or the Directorate of Disease Control in the Ministry of Health.

    “Also, health workers are advised to practise universal safety precautions in the management of suspected or confirmed cases, wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when attending to cases, wash hands after each contact with patient or contaminated materials while surveillance system must be strengthened.

    “The state government has mobilised the Disease Surveillance Officers in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state and health workers in both public and private health facilities have been placed on high alert,” Idris said.

    Idris called on residents to remain calm and go about their businesses without fear as the government had put in place adequate measures to effectively prevent and control the spread of the infection to the state.

    “In case of any suspected case of Monkey Pox, the Lagos State Ministry of Health should be notified through the following mobile lines: 08037170614, 09087106072,” the commissioner said.

     

  • Monkey Pox: A’Ibom activates disease control program

    Monkey Pox: A’Ibom activates disease control program

    Akwa Ibom state government has activated its infectious disease control program to curtail the spread of the dreaded monkey pox disease in the state.

    In a joint press briefing Monday in Uyo, by the state commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong and his information and strategy counterpart, Mr. Charles Udoh, the state government disclosed that it has reactivated it major infectious disease facilities across the state.

    Dr. Ukpong revealed that the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Ikot Ekpene and the Infectious Disease Emergency Rapid Response Team has been reactivated and health workers put on alert.

    He also said that the ministry has begun the tracing of all suspected cases, adding that residents of the state should observe high index of suspicion and report suspected cases to the Rapid Response Team (RRT).

    The action of the government followed a suspected case of monkey pox disease in one of the general hospitals in the state last week.

    Speaking further, the health commissioner mentioned that a female petty trader with suspicious rashes had also been discovered last week following the health officials from the ministry of health reached out to her and her two children who had similar rashes.

    Ukong said, “We quarantined her with her kids in her home while we continue to visit monitor and trace her contacts”

    He urged that all suspected cases should be transferred to the EOC, while calling on medical personnel to practice universal precautions while handling all patients.

  • Fed. Govt: no monkey pox virus injection

    Fed. Govt: no monkey pox virus injection

    The Federal Government has described as false the news that the outbreak of Monkey Pox in some parts of the country resulted from its free medical care in the affected areas.

    In a statement yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the news as fake and sinister.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard the report.

    ”The Federal Government has not conducted any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers State, as alleged in the fake report being circulated. So that could not have been the cause of the outbreak of Monkey Pox in both states.

    “Monkey Pox is a virus found only in monkeys and it is rare in human beings. It belongs to the same family as Chicken Pox and Smallpox.

    ”It is suspected that someone may have contracted it by eating monkey meat, thus triggering the current outbreak,” the minister said.

    He said no effort will be spared in curtailing the spread of the disease.

    With the confirmation of a new case of monkeypox in Akwa Ibom State, there are now 13 cases of the disease in the country.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday, confirmed 12 cases, which started with that of an 11-year-old male patient reported at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer NCDC Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said 11 other cases were identified.

    “All the cases are currently receiving appropriate medical care. All the patients are improving clinically and there have been no deaths. As at first of this month, 32 close contacts of the cases were identified, advised appropriately and are being monitored,” he said

    Ihekweazu explained that a Rapid Response Team (RRT) from NCDC was immediately deployed to support the Bayelsa State Government in the investigations and public health response to the outbreak.

    The team has been supporting the Bayelsa State Department of Public Health and the State Epidemiologist to respond to the outbreak. “As the outbreak investigation and response continues, the Bayelsa State Government has started an aggressive public enlightenment campaign to advise clinicians and the public on the symptoms of the disease and the steps required to manage the cases and to prevent further spread. NCDC has also collected appropriate clinical samples from the cases and these are being analysed through the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja,” Ihekweazu explained.

    There was panic in Akwa Ibom State following the reported case of monkey-pox disease.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Dominic Ukong, who announced the outbreak in Uyo, said the victim had been isolated.

    He also said two other suspected cases were being monitored by doctors

    Ukpong explained that the viral ailment borne by wild animals, especially Monkeys could be contracted through bodily contact with infected persons and warned the populace to shun bush meat.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Charles Udoh spoke of the need for residents to avoid crowded places as relevant agencies had been alerted to ensure appropriate clinical measures were in place to deal with such emergencies.

    But the Bayelsa State Government yesterday said it had curtailed the spread of the virus through various response mechanism it created in the wake of the epidemic.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson said many of the victims quarantined at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri, were already showing signs of recovery.

    He said the government had intensified sensitization and advocacy visits to communities to reassure the indigenes of its readiness to tackle the spread of the disease.

    Iworiso-Markson explained that two of the index cases and the doctor affected by the disease had recovered and were discharged, adding that no death had been recorded from the disease.

    “To further allay the fears and reassure Bayelsans of Governments’ effort in curbing the disease, let me make it clear that we are on top of the situation. However, it is important for people to take note of the fact that prevention is better than cure.

    “Hence, they are required to always wash their hands, avoid monkeys, bushmeat and dead animals as well as be on the lookout for symptoms which often manifest as various stages of rash and an intense weakness of the body and severe pains, among other things,” he said.

  • Monkey pox: C/River strengthens surveillance in border communities

    Monkey pox: C/River strengthens surveillance in border communities

    Cross River Government on Sunday said it had strengthened its surveillance team in border communities and all the local governments of the state as Monkey pox outbreak hits some states in South-South.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, disclosed this in an interview in Calabar.

    “Cross River is not far from other states in the South-South that have witnessed the outbreak, we are working round the clock to prevent the disease in the state.

    “As soon as we heard about the outbreak, we took extra precautions. Already, we have a team set up for infection, disease preparedness and control.

    “We are always on alert and in constant surveillance of any disease outbreak. We have held several meetings with the state epidemiologists because we believe that prevention is better than cure.

    “Currently, we are carrying out sensitisation and advocacy campaigns in communities through community leaders, town announcers and the media,’’ she said.

    Asibong said that the state had also taken proactive measures by dispatching its epidemiological team to strategic areas in the state.

    She described Monkey pox as a rare viral disease transmitted to humans from animals, adding that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970.

    According to her, infection of the disease results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and muscular injury of infected animals.

    She said that the incubation period ranged five to 21 days.

    According to her, the first five days known as `invasion period’, is characterised by fever, intense headache, swelling of the lymph back pain and others.

    The commissioner also described as false, some online reports alleging that a case of monkey pox had been detected in Okuni Village in Ikom Local Government Area of the state.

    The commissioner also said that security personnel on border areas across the state had been sensitised about the disease.

    She said that an infected person who contacts the disease usually notices symptoms similar to chicken pox and it normally starts from the face, palms and to the sole of the feet.

    “We have informed security personnel to look out for these symptoms and alert us accordingly.

    “The state government is very responsive to cases of disease outbreak and we pray that the recent outbreak of Monkey Pox will not get to Cross River.’’

    NAN

  • How monkey pox started in Bayelsa community – investigation

    How monkey pox started in Bayelsa community – investigation

    Residents of Agbura community in Ogbia Local Government Area where the suspected Monkey Pox epidemic started were not bothered about the disease, investigations showed yesterday.

    It was also gathered contrary to insinuations the index case of the epidemic came down with the disease after consuming monkey, the teenager only had constant contact with a monkey, which he played with it as a pet.

    When our correspondent visited the community, which is not far from Otuoke, the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the locals were seen going about their normal activities.

    A commercial motorcyclist claimed he had never heard about the epidemic and directed our correspondent to speak to another resident, who identified himself simply as Nathan.

    But Nathan said there was nothing serious about the monkey pox in the riverine community, adding the family of the index case resides on Unity Street around the area.

    “We only heard that one family from the eastern part of the country travelled home where they are they ate monkey so when they came back to our community, some of them came down with the sickness,” he said.

    At unity Street, our correspondent observed people around the area were going about their activities without fear.

    Contrary to reports, neighbours had not relocated from the street.

    A neighbour, who spoke in confidence, said only an 11-year-old boy and his six years old younger brother came down with symptoms of the epidemic.

    He stated the case of the younger brother was not as severe as his elder brother.

    Apart from the two victims, nobody living with them had come down with the sickness, the neigbour hinted.

    He said parents of the victims had not shown signs of the epidemic, adding their mother owned a restaurant somewhere in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    On how the victims could have contracted the suspected virus, he said: “We don’t really know. But all I can tell you is that one of the neighbours with a shop had a monkey.

    “The victims used to play with the monkey. The monkey was like their pet. The monkey used to lick their bodies and climbed on them. That was all we know before their sickness occurred”.

    It was gathered the victims were later taken away by health experts to the University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri where they were treated and brought back home.

    The victims were reportedly asked to remain indoors, pending total recuperation.

    The source said: “When the health experts came they asked our neighbour to take the monkey away. We don’t know where the monkey was taken to.

    “But the experts have been coming around to check the health statuses of some people around here.

    “They said they would soon carry out a general medical examination of everybody. But we don’t think it is anything serious”.

    Bayelsa State Government has established a 12-member rapid response team consisting of top medical professionals and public health experts to check possible spread of the monkey pox.

    Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebimitula Etebu, who set up the committee, reassured the epidemic was under control adding that there was not need to panic.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said government had embarked on practical steps to ensure the disease was prevented from spreading.