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Abia State Government has confirmed one case of monkeypox in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, confirmed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting on Monday in Umuahia.
He said that the confirmed case occurred around Isiala Ngwa.
He further disclosed that out of the 13 recorded in the state, only one tested positive, nine tested negative, while two were awaiting classification.
The commissioner, however, said that there was no casualty yet.
He, therefore, advised residents to maintain personal hygiene and keep social distancing.
He said that a treatment centre had already been set up by the state government at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Agozi Azodo, said: “Regular personal hygiene is the best way to protect oneself” from contracting the viral disease.
She also advised residents, especially farmers, to minimise contact with animals.
The former Director, Federal Ministry of Health, said the state government was ready to deal with the possible outbreak of the disease, and asked residents to promptly report any suspected case.
The SA disclosed that the government had concluded arrangements to renovate and retrofit 200 primary health centres across the state in 100 days
The project according to her will commence in the first week of September and delivered before December.
This, she explained, is part of the ongoing transformation in the health sector of the state.
