The Honourable Commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong has
confirmed an information of a suspected case of Monkey Pox in a general
hospital where the patient was already in a proper isolation. This discovery,
according to the Commissioner, came a day after the news of the outbreak in
Bayelsa State.
Another information about a female petty trader who had suspicious rashes was
reported, she was found and her two children with similar rashes. She with her
children were quarantined in her home.
To check the spread of the disease, the government has
reactivated the Infectious Disease Emergency rapid response team, Emergency
Operations Centre, has directed all health facilities and workers to be on
alert, exercise high index of suspicion, to observe and practice Universal
precautions while handling patients, report all and any suspicious cases to
Rapid Response team on emergency number: 08037934966 or Emergency Operation
Centre EOC on 09023330092.
Monkey POX, according to Dr. Ukpong, is a rare disease transmitted
to humans by animals and it is caused by a virus, (Orthopoxvirus genus of the
family Poxviridae)which was first isolated from Monkey serum by the State Serum
Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1958.
Transmission is from direct contact with blood, body fluid,
cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected or dead animals such as monkeys,
Gambian giant rats, squirrels, prairie dog; eating inadequately cooked meat of
infected animals, human to human transmission can result from close contact
with infected persons, respiratory droplet, objects recently contaminated by
patients fluids or lesion materials. It can also be transmitted via the
placenta (Congenital monkey pox).
Signs and Symptoms include *Incubation Period of 6 to 16 days
(can range from 5 to 21 days) after that there's onset of *Fever *Severe
headache *Muscle pains *Backache *Lymph nodes swelling (Lymphadenopathy),
distinguishing it from other similar diseases *Tiredness *1-3 or more days
after start of fever, rashes break out.
Rashes often begin on the face and then spread to other parts.
The rashes vary from few thousand affecting oral mucous membranes, eye lids,
conjunctiva and even genitalia. It moves through stages: moculopapular (having
flat bases), to vesicles (small fluid blisters), to Pustules, followed by
crusts and scabs and fall off after about 10 days.
The whole illness last about 2 to 4 weeks; it is a self limited disease.
It is a milder dis than Small pox. It rarely causes death though
this can occur especially in children where it is more severe.
There is no treatment available and no vaccination. Small Pox
vaccine used to mitigate it but small pox was eradicated in 1980 and the
vaccine is no longer available to the general public.
To prevent being infected, avoid contact with infected or dead
animals, tell others about it, do not eat inadequately cooked meat, especially
bush meat, practice washing of hands with water and soap always especially if
you are taking care of sick relation, avoid contact with blood, body fluids or
skin of infected animals, health workers should wear gloves and protective
clothing when handling patients and should practice universal infection control
precautions.
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