By Desire Onyeka
The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services has launched an investigation into a suspected Mpox outbreak in Korinya, Konshisha Local Government Area, following reports of a mysterious skin disease affecting several residents and sparking fears of community transmission.
The investigation followed a public appeal by residents of Tyokula Achihi Residence, along Km 2 Vandeikya Road, Korinya, who reported that several young men and women had developed fever, widespread rashes and blister-like lesions on their faces, chests, backs and other parts of their bodies.
In a press statement dated July 25, 2026, and signed by Shadrach Mtsor on behalf of the community, the residents expressed concern that the illness appeared to be spreading among people living within the same compound.
“We are making a desperate public appeal for immediate medical intervention over a suspected outbreak of Mpox in our community. Many of the affected persons are staff and residents within the same compound and have no access to proper diagnosis, isolation or treatment. We fear this could spread to the wider Korinya community and beyond if not contained now,” the statement read.
The residents appealed to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to urgently deploy emergency response teams.
They requested rapid diagnostic testing, isolation support, personal protective equipment, hygiene kits, free medical treatment, public health education and, if necessary, temporary closure and decontamination of the affected premises.
“Our community is poor and cannot handle this alone. The victims are isolated in their rooms without medical care. We are scared. We appeal to government and humanitarian organisations to intervene before this becomes a bigger public health emergency,” the residents said.
Responding, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, said the ministry immediately activated its disease surveillance system after receiving reports of the suspected cases.
According to him, the Director of Public Health, working with the State Epidemiologist, deployed the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) for Konshisha Local Government Area to investigate the situation and collect clinical samples for laboratory analysis.
“At this stage, no Mpox outbreak has been confirmed in Benue State. It is important to emphasise that skin rashes and fever can result from several medical conditions, and laboratory confirmation is required before any diagnosis of Mpox can be made,” Ogwuche said.
He assured residents that disease surveillance remains active across all 23 local government areas of the state in collaboration with the NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, WHO and other development partners.
The commissioner urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.
He advised anyone experiencing fever accompanied by unexplained rashes or blisters to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility and avoid close physical contact until properly evaluated by healthcare professionals.
Ogwuche also commended members of the Korinya community for promptly reporting the suspected cases, describing early reporting as essential for effective disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
He assured residents that the outcome of the laboratory investigation would be made public once available and pledged that appropriate public health measures would be implemented immediately if the suspected cases are confirmed to be Mpox or any other disease of public health concern.
