The Nigerian
government has said that it is yet to confirm if the ailment spreading across
some states is monkeypox.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, who briefed
journalists after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, said the
Centre for Disease Control has taken samples for laboratory analysis locally
and in Senegal.
“We will know within 48 hours if what we are dealing with is
monkeypox,” he said.
The minister, however, urged Nigerians not to panic. He said
if it turns out to be monkeypox, there are two types of the disease; Central
African and West African.
Mr. Adewole said the West African one is not deadly.
He also said 33 suspected cases have been recorded across
seven states; with no deaths recorded.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how suspected cases have been recorded
in Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River states.
Mr. Adewole also announced that FEC has approved the
composition of a committee that will review laws that allow medical doctors to
carry out private practice while they work with government; an indication the
government plans to stop the practice.
Culled from premiumtimesng.com
