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Dr Akeem Bello, Director of Public Health in Osun, has dismissed reports of new monkeypox (M-pox) cases resurfacing in Ilesa, Osun. In a telephone interview on Monday in Osogbo, Bello stated that only two cases had been recorded since January.
“We have had only two cases this year, one in March and the latest in the last week of August. The new case was in Ilesa, and we promptly conducted contact tracing to determine if others had contracted the disease,” Bello explained.
He confirmed that the August patient was stable and emphasised that the state government had activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for M-pox. He added that staff members were undergoing training and retraining to improve their ability to identify and manage the spread of M-pox.
Bello added that weekly meetings would be held to review events, and the government was fully informed. He also said surveillance activities had been intensified, and research was being conducted.
Bello further said that the residents were advised to prioritise personal hygiene, as the disease was preventable.
“Although the M-pox vaccine is not readily available in Nigeria, the government has assured residents that they will receive it when it becomes available,” Bello said, while reassuring the public that the situation was under control and there was no cause for alarm.
In a separate statement, Osun Commissioner for Health, Mr Jola Akintola, held a meeting of the Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the Ministry of Health in Osogbo. He urged residents not to panic and assured them that the state government was actively managing the situation.
Akintola emphasised that M-pox was a preventable disease and commended Gov, Ademola Adeleke for his proactive leadership and dedication to public health.