Monkeypox : Confusion in Rivers over reported cases

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Confusion has engulfed Rivers state over the discovery of monkeypox disease in three communities in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike, had earlier briefed journalists of three suspected cases of monkeypox discovered in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

But the commissioner later denied the outbreak in a radio news programme.

Professor Chike while briefing journalists on the presence of the disease in the state, assured that his ministry had set up isolation centres to prevent the spread of the disease.

“In Rivers State we have three suspected cases already. One is from the Rumuorlumeni area. We saw it and think it is not a serious matter so we have ruled it out.

“Another one is a thirteen-year old boy at Eneka. We discovered they took the boy to a native doctor. The parents think they can handle it the native way.

“We have activated our isolation centres and we have put all our health centres on red alert.

“The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital and all our primary health centres have been reactivated.

“We can assure you that there is no cause for alarm because we are on top of the situation.”

Professor Chike also asked that residents of the state call the attention of relevant authorities to any suspected case of the viral infection.

The three contact numbers he released to the public to call in cases of emergency are 08056109538, 09062277699, and 08033124314.

Shockingly, a few hours after the reported outbreak as attributed to the commissioner, he ran to the news studio of Silver bird Rhythm 93.7 Port Harcourt during the six-o clock news to deny that there has been reported cases of Monkeypox in the state.

“There is no case of Monkey pox in the state. Our rapid response squad has been put on red alert. As we speak, there is no case of Monkey pox in Rivers state. Residents are assured that there is no cause for alarm,” he announced.

With the swift denial by the commissioner, not a few residents have been left confused as regards the outbreak of the disease in the state.