Cross River State has reported two new cases of M-pox, confirmed by the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor, Dr. Ekpo Bassey.
He shared the development with journalists on Friday, revealing that the infections were identified within the Calabar Municipality area.
According to The PUNCH, Dr. Bassey, who also leads the Cross River M-pox Response as Incident Manager, said that the state’s surveillance team initially detected the cases on Monday, October 21.
“Our team identified the cases early and promptly sent samples to the National Reference Hospital in Abuja for confirmation. By Thursday, October 24, we received confirmation that both cases were indeed positive,” he stated.
The two individuals affected include an 18-year-old university student from the University of Calabar and a baby from the Ikot Ekpo area.
“While the young patient is from UniCal, the infant’s case is unusual, as neither of the parents has shown symptoms. We’re investigating possible transmission sources,” Dr. Bassey explained.
Both patients are reportedly stable, with the health team closely monitoring their progress. “We’ve activated all necessary response units and initiated a strict infection control process. Public awareness and preventive measures are also in place to minimize further spread,” he added.
In addition to these two cases, the state has previously recorded three M-pox infections within Calabar Municipality. Contact tracing efforts are ongoing for anyone who may have been exposed to the confirmed cases.
As M-pox is a zoonotic virus that can spread from animals to humans and from person to person, Dr. Bassey emphasized preventive measures, advising residents to avoid consuming improperly cooked bushmeat and to maintain high hygiene standards.
“Our health authorities will continue with sensitization efforts to educate the public on how to prevent M-pox,” he urged.
He also reminded the public of the infection’s incubation period, which ranges from 21 to 25 days, noting that the state’s health response team will continue to monitor for additional cases during this period.
