Following the outbreak of monkey pox in more states, the Osun Government has set up three quarantine centres as measures to control the disease in case of an outbreak in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Osogbo.
There have been reported cases of outbreak of monkey pox in seven states, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Lagos.
Isamotu said two of the quarantine centres were located in Irepodun Local Government Area and the other, in Boripe Local Government.
He said though there had been no reported case of the disease in the state, government had put all its surveillance officials on a red alert.
The commissioner also said that the state government would train its health officials on how to handle patients in case of any incident.
He said the state government had also embarked on sensitisation programmes on television and radio on the causes and preventive measures against the disease.
According Isamotu, monkey pox is a viral infection which is self limiting with no specific treatment or vaccine for the cure.
The commissioner however said that the spread could be controlled.
He urged the residents to cultivate the habit of hand washing, endevour to thoroughly boil their meat before eating and avoid contact with infected persons.
He said some of the symptoms of the virus included, fever, headache and discomforting feelings.
Isamotu said government had dedicated two hotline telephone numbers: 08033908772 and 08035638608 through which residents could contact the relevant authorities, in case of any suspected outbreak.
He urged the people not to panic, adding that the state had what it took to prevent the spread of the virus in case of an outbreak.
“We are fully on alert and government is going to do everything possible to ensure that our people are safe,” he said.