…As Official Warns Other Animals Spread Virus
Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (OSPHDA) has confirmed 12 cases of Mpox in eight Local Government Areas, sparking an urgent call for vaccination.
Speaking in Akure during a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, the Director of Disease Control, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, revealed that the disease, once thought to be transmitted only by monkeys, can spread through various animals.
“The disease is with us in Ondo State, particularly in Akoko South-West, Akoko North-West, Akoko North-East, Owo, Akure South, Akure North, Ondo East, and Odigbo,” he said, stressing its contagious nature and the need to curb its spread.
Adefesoye announced that a targeted vaccination campaign will run from August 11 to 21, focusing on individuals aged 18 and above who have been infected, their close contacts, and health workers who treated them.
“This vaccination process is different from previous vaccinations because we know the targeted people and we have contacted them,” he explained.
Urging community leaders to mobilise residents, he added, “We anticipate that though we have contacted them, some may still feel reluctant to take it. We encourage you as stakeholders to encourage them and be vaccinated.” Recipients will receive two doses of the injectable vaccine at different intervals.
State Immunisation Officer, Mrs. Florence Fadiji, warned that Mpox spreads through contact with infected animals, persons, or contaminated objects, with symptoms including body sores, rashes, fever, headache, and weakness.
She assured that the vaccine’s side effects, if any, are minimal compared to the disease’s impact.
Permanent Secretary of OSPHDA, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, emphasised the role of stakeholders as community voices, urging them to “convince the targeted people to take the vaccine” for the good of the state.
Authorities also advised residents to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to reduce transmission risks.
