Following the outbreak of the deadly monkey poxvirus in neighboring Bayelsa state, Cross River state government has activated its disease outbreak and surveillance response team at both local and international boarder communities across the state. 

The state commissioner for health, Inyang Asibong said the activation of the state disease outbreak, surveillance and response team to police the boarder communities on prevention measures  became necessary as a preventive measure.

Asibong said due to the peculiar nature of cross river as a link state in the south south region, vigilance becomes necessary. 

On her part, the director general of the state primary health care development agency, Beta Edu said the agency has also increased the health security at the boarder communities   to contain the spread of the disease from the neighboring Bayelsa state. 

Advocacy according to the director-general is already ongoing in the rural communities; assuring that Cross River state is and will remain monkey pox free. 

Cross river state has the largest biodiversity reserves in Nigeria with large numbers of monkeys and other wildlife animals living around the city centres, but the health commissioner said there was no cause for concern.