Health authorities in Benue State have commenced an investigation following reports of a suspected case of mpox in Korinya community, Konshisha Local Government Area, as officials move swiftly to determine whether the viral disease has been detected in the state.
The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services said it activated its disease surveillance system after reports of a suspected mpox infection surfaced on social media, prompting an immediate public health response.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Egwuche, disclosed that the ministry responded by deploying health officials to the affected community to assess the situation and gather samples for laboratory analysis.
According to him, the Director of Public Health instructed the State Epidemiologist to send a Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer to Korinya to carry out a detailed assessment, investigate the suspected case, and collect samples for testing.
Dr. Egwuche stressed that no outbreak has been confirmed, noting that laboratory analysis remains the only way to establish whether the suspected case is indeed mpox.
“At this stage, no mpox outbreak has been confirmed in Benue State. Skin rashes and fever can result from several medical conditions, and laboratory confirmation is required before any diagnosis is made,” Dr. Egwuche said.
He explained that the Benue State Government, under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, has continued to prioritize disease surveillance and public health protection. He added that monitoring systems remain active across all 23 local government areas in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The commissioner appealed to residents not to panic or circulate unverified information that could create unnecessary fear within communities. Instead, he encouraged anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever accompanied by unexplained rashes or blisters to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility and avoid close contact with others until properly evaluated by healthcare professionals.
Dr. Egwuche also commended members of the Korinya community for promptly reporting the suspected case, describing early notification as a critical factor in containing infectious diseases and enabling a rapid public health response.
He assured residents that the ministry would continue to provide updates as soon as laboratory test results become available.
Mpox is a viral disease that was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. Since then, cases have been reported in several African countries and, in recent years, in other parts of the world. The disease is typically characterized by fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive skin rash, with health experts emphasizing the importance of early detection, laboratory confirmation, and prompt medical care in managing suspected infections.