No Mpox Outbreak in Benue, Health Commissioner Assures Residents

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has dismissed reports of a suspected Mpox outbreak in Korinya Community, Konshisha Local Government Area, confirming that investigations identified the reported cases as Chickenpox (Varicella) rather than Mpox.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this in a statement issued in Makurdi on Monday. He explained that the government launched an immediate investigation after social media reports on July 25, 2026, alleged that several residents of Tyokula Achihi Residence along the Vandeikya-Konshisha Road were suffering from severe fever and blister-like skin rashes suspected to be Mpox. The report prompted the activation of the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), the State Epidemiology Unit, and the Disease Surveillance and Notification System.
According to Ogwuche, a joint team comprising the Konshisha Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, the State Epidemiologist, and the World Health Organization (WHO) community surveillance network investigated the incident. The team identified two adult residents who had developed fever followed by widespread blister-like rashes. Both patients had already received treatment at a private health facility in Korinya and were recovering before investigators arrived.
The commissioner said clinical assessments showed the illness followed the typical pattern of Chickenpox, not Mpox. He noted that the skin lesions had dried and crusted over, with no involvement of the palms, soles, or oral mucous membranes—features commonly associated with Mpox. He added that neither patient had any known contact with confirmed or suspected Mpox cases, while photographs and clinical information reviewed by investigators further supported the Chickenpox diagnosis.
Ogwuche stated that there is no evidence of an Mpox outbreak in Korinya Community or Konshisha LGA. However, he said surveillance has been intensified in the area, with any new suspected cases to be sampled and sent to the National Reference Laboratory in line with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) protocols. He urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, maintain good personal hygiene, promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility, and rely only on official updates. The commissioner also reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response, while commending the Konshisha Local Government, traditional rulers, healthcare workers, disease surveillance officers, the WHO, and other health partners for their swift response.