A 29-year-old driver who lives in Gbugbu in the state’s Edu Local Government Area was found to have had the sickness, according to Dr. Raji Razak, the state’s commissioner for health, who confirmed the development in a statement he signed.

The driver was admitted to a government hospital, according to the commissioner, while his family members are being monitored.

The statement read, “Kwara State Ministry of Health wishes to confirm the first case of monkeypox in the state. This comes after the diligent work of the monitoring and response team, which was activated when the country’s index case was first detected in March 2022.

“The first confirmed case in Kwara State involves a 29-year-old Nigerian driver who developed symptoms of fever, generalized rash, and weakness in the last two weeks and had been under our surveillance.

“There was contact with the wife and four neighbours with similar symptoms where he lives at Gbugbu in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. All of which have been resolved by the health team.

“The patient has been on admission in the last one week because of suspicion of monkeypox. He has also been under strict monitoring by the surveillance and clinical team.

“Currently, the patient is improving and stable in the ward.”