Abia State has recorded nine cases of Monkey Pox.
The state Epidemiologist, Peace Nwogwugwu, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Umuahia, the state capital.
She spoke at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists in collaboration with Abia State Ministry of Health.
Nwogwugwu said: “Currently, 40 suspected cases have been investigated and nine confirmed in five Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.
“Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano and Umunneochi local government areas had two cases each, while Aba North had one case.
“Government has ensured that all necessary outbreak response activities have been activated.
“This is to quickly contain the outbreak within the shortest period.”
In her remarks, Oluchi Ikechukwu-Odionyenfe, the Chairperson of NAWOJ Caretaker Committee in Abia State, said the workshop was organised so that NAWOJ members could join in the fight against monkey pox.
Also addressing the workshop, Victor Ndukwe, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State chapter, said it was a bold step to prevent misinterpretation of the disease.
Ndukwe commended the organisers and urged relevant agencies to increase public education about the disease in the rural areas.
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