Benue State is taking no chances on the suspected cases of the viral monkey pox discovered in the middle-belt state.
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The Benue State Government yesterday deployed medical personnel to carry out necessary investigation on the suspected cases of Monkey pox reported in Gboko and Vandeikya.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Cecelia Ojabo, the Commissioner disclosed that on receiving the report of the suspected cases, she immediately deployed Medical Doctors to the areas.
Doctor Ojabo explained that the blood sample of the suspected victims would be taken for necessary laboratory analysis to confirm whether or not they were indeed cases of Monkey pox.
She called on people of the State not to panic but remain calm as necessary measures were in place to protect the people of the state from the disease.
She pointed out that the State Government had long before now shown serious concern over the outbreak of Monkey Pox in other parts of the country, and that was why it embarked on serious sensitization campaigns on how to people can guide against contacting.
The Commissioner appealed to anyone who sees and suspects Monkey Pox to immediately report to the nearest medical facility for prompt action.
Dr Ojabo advised the people to abstain from consumption of any form of Bush meat, particularly monkey, rat, squirrel, adding that they should also reduce handshake as these preventive measures would go a long way in preventing it's spread.
She also called on Medical personnel to have a high index of suspicion of all fever of unknown origin and make necessary referral to the infectious Unit of the Benue State Teaching Hospital.