The first incidence of monkeypox in the North-Central state was confirmed by the Kwara State Government on Thursday.
In a statement released in Ilorin, Dr. Raji Razaq, the commissioner for health, said the recorded case was the result of diligent work by the monitoring and response team that had been engaged ever since the index case was reported in the nation in March 2022.
“A 29-year-old Nigerian driver who had been under our monitoring for two weeks and who had exhibited signs of fever, generalised rash, and weakness is the first verified case in Kwara state, the statement partly read.
“There were contacts with the wife and four neighbours with similar symptoms where he lives at Gbugbu in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. All of which have been resolved by the health team.
“The patient has been on admission in the last one week because of suspicion of monkeypox. He has also been under strict monitoring by the surveillance and clinical team.”
“Currently, the patient is improving and stable in the ward.
“The government’s team has similarly begun health facility and community case search/contact tracing.
“The team will also intensify continuous public and community sensitization on the disease and its symptoms for public education and control.
“There is also ongoing training and retraining of health workers to strengthen our response to the development.
“The Ministry of Health is also notifying the appropriate agencies, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, of the development.
“Members of the public are implored to step up efforts at personal and community hygiene as we work together to fight this monkeypox disease.”
