EXPERTS WARN ON MPOX, CHOLERA OUTBREAKS AS CASES RECORDED IN KEBBI

Nigerians have been urged to be wary of cholera outbreak and monkey pox viral infection that spreads rapidly in the community. This call was the outcome of the 23rd seminar series held in Federal University Birnin Kebbi on Thursday 26th September, 2024.

The seminar which was chaired by the Executive Secretary, Kebbi state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KECHEMA), Dr. Jafar Mohammed Augie, saw the first lecture presentation by Professor Balarabe Adamu Isa of the Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital on the topic “Cholera Outbreak and Control in Nigeria: The Role of Environmental Sanitation and Climate change”.

Prof. Balarabe, a consultant and public Health physician, described cholera as an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacteria Vibrio Cholerae that can kill within hours if left untreated. He said cholera disease keep occuring and cause the highest case fatality rate in Nigeria which was mainly caused by V. Cholerae 01 and 0139.

Prof. Balarabe explained that prevention is better than cure. Therefore,he urged people to always wash their hands before eating, keep food preparation areas clean,use clean and sanitised utensils for food preparation and consumption and consider getting vaccinated if traveling to areas with high cholera risks.

The second lecture presentation was delivered by Dr. Tuko Moses Tari of the Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital Birnin Kebbi on the topic “The Trend of Monkey Pox Viral Infection and Control Strategies”. 

Dr. Tuko described Mpox as a zoonotic rash illness caused by the monkey pox virus which is member of the orthopoxvirus genus that mainly be transmitted from animal to human, human to human and contaminated environment to human transmission. He explained the symptoms of the mpox that includes:rashes, fever, headache,sore throat, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, genital oedema and lymphadenopathy and anogenital pain or bleeding among others.

Dr. Tuko opined that to stay safe from mpox viral Infection, one has to avoid travel if mpox symptoms occur in an area, avoid contact with animal reservoirs, avoid skin to skin contact and also taking single dose MVA -BN vaccine before exposure has an estimated 76% effectiveness in protecting people against mpox, with the 2-dose schedule achieving an estimated 82% effectiveness. In his address, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan Umar who was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Aliyu Abdullahi Turaki thanked everyone for attending the programme, especially chairman of the occasion and the two presenters. He emphasised the for collaborative research towards providing solutions for the public health diseases.