Benue denies Mpox outbreak, confirms chickenpox case
The Benue State Government in Nigeria has officially denied reports of an Mpox outbreak in the Korinya community. Health officials confirmed that the suspected cases were actually chickenpox, noting that the patients are already recovering.
Why it matters
Public health misinformation can cause unnecessary panic; clarifying disease outbreaks is essential for maintaining community stability and trust in health systems.
The Benue State Government has said a suspected case of Mpox reported in Korinya Community, Konshisha Local Government Area of the state, was clinically assessed to be chickenpox (varicella), ruling out fears of an outbreak.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
Ogwuche had last Friday announced that the ministry was investigating a suspected case of Mpox reported in Korinya Community.
Releasing the findings of the investigation, the commissioner said the case was thoroughly examined by the ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, the State Epidemiology Unit and the Disease Surveillance and Notification System.
He said, “The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services wishes to state that, based on the findings available at this time, there is no evidence of an Mpox outbreak in Korinya Community, Konshisha LGA.”
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