A corpse of an Anambra
State indigene brought from Liberia, yesterday, caused scare of the
dreaded Ebola disease in the state, with officials of the state ministry
of health directing security operatives to cordon off the mortuary
where the body was deposited pending investigations by experts from the
Federal Ministry of Health.
The corpse was brought
into the country as a cargo and was taken straight to Apex Hospital and
Mortuary at Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of the state,
apparently by his relations and waiting for burial.
However, somebody from
the community, who knew that the man died in Liberia where there have
been deaths caused by Ebola disease, informed the Anambra State
Governor, Chief Willie Obiano. The Governor immediately directed the
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabike to take action.
Addressing reporters in
Awka, yesterday, Akabike said though it has not been confirmed that the
man died of the Ebola disease, there was need for precautionary measures
to be taken.
He said: “We have
already contacted the Federal Ministry of Health and we are expecting
them to arrive the state any time from now. We have sealed the mortuary
and the hospital and all the corpses and the people working there have
been quarantined.
“We are also making
efforts to locate the family of the deceased to know their level of
contact with the corpse when it arrived the country and everybody who
had visited the mortuary will also be quarantined.
“We are surprised how the corpse came into Nigeria and Anambra State. It is shocking to us.
“We have directed the police to cordon off the area. Ebola is a very big threat and that is why we are taking all the measures.”
According to him, “the
information was brought by somebody who acted fast, following the
announcement we have been making since the disease was made known”,
adding that his ministry has assembled its health team and got all the
preventive materials ready. culled
*Wow,why did his Family
bring the corpse all the way back home from Liberia?Airport officials in
all countries should open their eyes...they should not have allowed the
corpse leave liberia in the first place...Ebola is too scary,bodies
should not be transported from places of high risk.
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