The Borno State government has confirmed that there is an outbreak of monkeypox in the state.

The public health, State’s Ministry of Health, Dr Lawi Auta Mshelia, said at the moment the state has sent about four samples to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and three were confirmed positive.

Dr Mshelia further discloses that two of the cases were reported from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment while the other patient was reported from Biu Local Government Area in Southern Borno.

The Director added that “one of the patients had been discharged from the hospital about a week ago, while the others were improving, adding that they must have been discharged by now being that a patient with monkeypox doesn’t stay more than two weeks on admission.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has embarked on sensitisation programme to  ensure enough awareness enhanced prevention of epidemic-prone diseases including monkeypox, Cholera, and COVID-19 pandemic.”