The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has denied claims that the outbreak of Monkey Pox in some parts of the country resulted from the alleged free medical care by the federal government in the affected areas.
According to him, the reports linking the disease to the free medicare of government was fake, and unfounded.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Segun Adeyemi, his Media Aide, the Minister urged Nigerians to disregard the report which, according to him, was being spread by some unscrupulous persons to fit into a sinister agenda.
”The Federal Government has not conducted any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers state, as alleged in the fake report being circulated.
“So, that could not have been the cause of the outbreak of Monkey Pox in both states.
“Monkey Pox is a virus found only in monkeys and it is rare in human beings. It belongs to the same family as Chicken Pox and Smallpox.
”It is suspected that someone may have contacted it by eating monkey meat, thus triggering the current outbreak,” the Minister said.
He assured that no effort would be spared in curtailing the spread of the disease.