The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Cross River State Government to urgently strengthen its surveillance against mpox due to heightened vulnerability in the region.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Calabar, Dr. Ukam Edadi, the Public Relations Officer of the NMA, highlighted that Cross River is particularly at risk compared to other states.
The mpox virus, which originally emerged in Central Africa, has since spread to several West African countries, including Nigeria, where 39 cases have been officially reported.
Edadi stressed the need for proactive measures, citing Cross River’s unique risk factors, including its status as a major tourist destination and its extensive forest reserves, such as the Gorilla Sanctuary.
“Hunters and other individuals who come into frequent contact with wildlife could easily become hosts for the virus,” Edadi warned.
Dr. Ukam Edadi further emphasized Cross River State’s geographical vulnerability due to its borders with Cameroon and other Central African countries, where the mpox outbreak initially began.
He noted that areas such as Boki, Ikom, and Bakassi share boundaries with Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, increasing the state’s susceptibility to the virus.
Edadi stressed the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, particularly in border communities, and called for intensive awareness campaigns to address the current lack of public knowledge about mpox in the state.
He also pointed out that neighboring states have already reported cases of mpox. Reflecting on past responses, Edadi acknowledged Cross River’s effective handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak but warned against complacency.
“If an mpox outbreak occurs, Cross River currently lacks sufficient isolation centers and diagnostic capabilities, which poses a significant challenge.
“The state’s primary isolation centre was destroyed during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, leaving only a facility at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), which can accommodate just 50 patients.
“We must intensify our surveillance efforts, particularly in abattoirs, on roads where animals are transported, and at bush meat joints, which could become hotspots for the virus,” he urged.
However, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, dismissed concerns about mpox outbreak in the state, describing the reports by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as erroneous.
He assured the public that there was currently no evidence of mpox, cholera, or Lassa fever in the state.
He noted that the recent update of NCDC had to do with a previous case of mpox in the state.
(NAN)
