Benue debunks Mpox outbreak, says suspected case is chickenpox

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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.

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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.

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Ogwuche had last Friday announced that the ministry was investigating a suspected case of Mpox reported in Korinya Community.

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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.

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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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Giving details of the findings, the commissioner said investigators identified two adults in Korinya Community who had previously experienced fever followed by widespread skin rashes with blister-like lesions on the face, chest, back and other parts of the body.

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“Both individuals had sought treatment at a private health facility in Korinya and had shown marked clinical improvement before the investigation team arrived.

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“Following a detailed clinical assessment, the presentation was found to be more consistent with chickenpox (varicella) than Mpox,” the statement read.

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Ogwuche said the assessment was based on several important clinical findings, noting that the illness followed the typical course of chickenpox, with both patients already recovering and their skin lesions dried and crusted, indicating a self-limiting viral illness.

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He added that the investigation found no lesions on the palms, soles or oral mucous membranes, which are common clinical features of Mpox.

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The commissioner further stated that investigators established there was no known contact with any confirmed or suspected Mpox case, making the likelihood of Mpox considerably lower.

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