Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk.
By Anietie Akpan
Two new cases of Mpox have been recorded in Cross River State, bringing to three the number of cases recorded so far.
Recall that in August 19, 2024, the state recorded it’s first Mpox (Monkey pox) in Okoshe community in Obudu Local Government Area (LGA).
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong in a letter addressed to the State Incident Manager, confirmed the two new cases in Calabar on September 14.
According to the letter, the two new cases were confirmed in Calabar Municipality of the state, adding that the Case Mamagement team has been directed to “immediately evacuate the two patients to an isolated centre”.
“This is to bring to your notice that we have two new confirmed cases of Mpox.
“Case Mamagement team has been informed for urgent evacuation of the 2 cases to isolation centre. State/LGA RRT have commenced contact tracing, listing, and monitoring”, the letter stated.
Accordingly, Dr Ekpeyong called for financial resources to urgently facilitate response activities.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk had in August confirmed the first recorded case in the state which was however said to have been confirmed in Ebonyi state where the patient went to seek for treatment at the Federal Government Hospital in Abakaliki.
The case was first reported by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and later confirmed by the state government.