Following the recent confirmation of Monkeypox resurgence in Nigeria, the Oyo State government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has assured residents that efforts are in top gear to control the spread of the disease, as the ministry in collaboration with relevant stakeholders are working to ensure that the situation is curtailed as well as ensure that further spread of the disease is reduced to the barest minimum.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Bode Raji.
In the statement, the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture has advised that people must avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with Monkey Pox because it can spread through contact. Hunters and bushmeat sellers should be discouraged from killing and selling wild animals,” the statement added.
Some of the early symptoms of monkeypox identified are fever, headache, muscles and joint pain, shivering, blistering rash.
On prevention, the ministry has informed that the disease could be prevented by practising good hand hygiene such as the washing of hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Similarly, the Oyo State government has advised residents to avoid contact with infected animals that could harbour the virus such as rodents, monkeys and the likes.
Veterinary doctors and para-veterinarian are also enjoined to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to patients that is, animals, while also discouraging the act of trading, importing and keeping non-human primate (Monkey) and rodents as pets.
The state government, therefore, advised the general public to report any pox-like lesions seen in humans or animals, to the nearest hospital/clinics and veterinary hospital in the state.