Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) has for the first time tested two #Mpox samples in its molecular laboratory, marking a significant step forward in Nigeria’s response to the disease.

The Rivers State Ministry of Health in a statement said the achievement is a result of the collaborative efforts between the RSUTH and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), following a discussion with the NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh about the state’s Mpox response and the need for enhanced testing capabilities.

It said, RSUTH has now been designated as the exclusive centre for Mpox testing in Nigeria’s South-South region, adding that the recognition reaffirms RSUTH’s role in innovative healthcare delivery and public health research, particularly in combating infectious diseases like Mpox.