File photo used only for illustrative purpose
According to a report by The Nation, a victim of monkeypox who was
receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Hospital (UNDTH),
Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, has committed suicide.It was gathered that the victim, whose name was not disclosed, hung himself early yesterday.
The state government confirmed the development at a joint press
conference by commissioners for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel
Iworiso-Markson and Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, with the Chief
Medical Director, NDUTH, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and other senior health
officials.
Etebu said that the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of “monkey pox” being managed at the NDUTH.
He regretted that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.
Etebu said the patient’s medical history did not suggest any mental illness or depression.
He maintained that the patient did not die of monkeypox.
Etebu said the police and his family had been contacted and all due diligence was being followed for his funeral.
He sympathised with the family and said that a committee would evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history.
The examination will determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.
Iworiso-Markson urged residents to continue to use preventive
measures, such as avoiding bushmeats and other causes of the disease.
The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the death had been reported.
He, however, said the police were not suspecting any foul play,
noting that there were no visible marks of violence other than the rope
the patient tied around his neck.
Three cases of monkey pox have been confirmed after laboratory analysis.
The cases are all in Bayelsa State where the outbreak was first reported in September.
Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja on the outcome of the tests
from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in
Senegal, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole said only three of the 21
were confirmed positive; 12 were negative.
Results of two others were being awaited.
On the suspected outbreak in Lagos, the minister said the four cases turned out negative.
The minister also noted that further investigations would be
carried out on the cases that came out negative to confirm what the
ailment is.
He said: “As at 13th of October 2017, there were 17 suspected
cases reported from Yenagoa Local Government in Bayelsa State. We have
received laboratory confirmation for monkey pox virus from three of
these cases from the WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Samples
from 12 other cases from Bayelsa were negative.
“With these results, three suspected monkey pox cases in
Yenagoa have been confirmed with laboratory evidence. The most likely
source of infection is a primary zoonotic transmission, from an animal,
with secondary person-to-person transmission.
“Since our initial announcement, a total of 43 other suspected
cases have been reported from eight other states (Akwa Ibom, Cross
River, Ekiti, Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, and FCT).
“Of these, four cases from Lagos have also been tested and confirmed to be negative for the monkey pox virus.”
The minister also posited that other cases from other parts of the country might not be caused by monkey pox.
Adewole said: “We expect that many of these cases being
reported from other states in Nigeria are not caused by the Monkey pox
virus, but we will continue to investigate all those cases that fit the
case definition.”
He added: “Further laboratory tests using whole genome
sequencing are being carried out by the Africa Centre for Genomics and
Infectious Diseases in Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.”
Adewole also reassured Nigerians that there was no reason to panic
as the West African strain of the monkey pox virus is milder, compared
to that of East Africa.
This, he said, explained why there has not been any casualty.
The minister stressed: “Monkey pox is largely a self-limiting
disease, from which all suspected patients that have been reported to
date are doing well clinically. Even before this confirmation, all the
necessary public health measures have been put in place and will
continue to be implemented.”
On the symptoms, Adewole said: “The monkey pox begins with
fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkey pox causes lymph
nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) and the incubation period (time from
infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range
from 5-21 days.
“Specifically, it begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion
Within one-three days (sometimes longer) after the appearance
of fever, the patient develops a rash, often begin on the face, then
spread to other parts of the body.”
The minister urged Nigerians “to remain calm and supportive of
public health authorities, avoid self-medication and report to the
nearest health facility if feeling unwell or notice any of the above
symptoms in anyone around you. It is important to note that there has
been no confirmation of monkey pox in any other part of the country, and
it is likely that many of the other cases being reported are not caused
by the monkey pox virus. Nigerians should continue to be vigilant at
all times.
“Health care workers are strongly advised to always practise
universal precautions while handling patients and/or body fluids at all
times. They are also urged to be alert, be familiar with the symptoms of
monkey pox and maintain a high index of suspicion. All suspected cases
should be immediately reported to the local government area or state
Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.”
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