The Benue State Government has formally ruled out a suspected outbreak of Monkeypox (Mpox) in Korinya community, Konshisha Local Government Area, following an investigation that determined the reported cases were clinically consistent with chickenpox (varicella) rather than Mpox.

The scare began after reports circulated on social media alleging that several residents of Tyokula Achihi Residence in Korinya had developed fever and blister-like skin rashes suspected to be Mpox. State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, said the ministry received the report on July 25 and moved swiftly to activate its emergency response protocols, deploying disease surveillance officers, the State Epidemiologist, and the World Health Organisation's community surveillance network to verify the claims on the ground.

The response drew on multiple layers of the state's health infrastructure, including the Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), the State Epidemiology Unit, and the Disease Surveillance and Notification System. Investigators reviewed photographs of the skin lesions alongside other available clinical information, ultimately concluding that the presentation was more consistent with chickenpox than Mpox. Notably, the investigation found that the lesions did not involve the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or mucous membranes of the mouth โ€” clinical features commonly associated with Mpox โ€” while also establishing no known contact or link to any confirmed or suspected Mpox case in the area, further lowering the likelihood of the disease.

Despite ruling out an active outbreak, Ogwuche said the ministry was not treating the matter as fully closed. Surveillance has been intensified in Korinya and neighbouring communities, with Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers conducting active case searches to ensure any emerging public health threat is detected early. The commissioner emphasised that the state's disease surveillance system remains fully operational across all 23 local government areas, with continued collaboration between the ministry, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, the WHO, and other development partners.

Ogwuche also used the update to caution the public against drawing premature conclusions from unverified reports, stressing that fever and skin rashes can stem from a wide range of medical conditions and that scientific investigation is essential before any outbreak can be confirmed. He urged residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic, while commending the community members who had promptly reported the suspected cases in the first place, noting that early reporting remains critical to effective disease surveillance.

The episode reflects a broader pattern of heightened public sensitivity to Mpox reports across Nigeria and much of Africa in recent years, following previous outbreaks that placed the disease under sustained public health scrutiny. Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration has stressed that protecting the health of Benue residents remains a top priority, with officials reiterating that any future disease threat โ€” Mpox or otherwise โ€” would be met with an immediate, coordinated response should laboratory or clinical findings warrant it.