Ebola: Man’s sudden death causes commotion in Edo

There was pandemonium on Sunday in Udo community, Ovia North-East local government council of Edo State, following speculations that the sudden death of a middle-aged man, was as a result of being infected with the deadly Ebola virus.

While a cross-section of the villagers claimed that the deceased slumped and died as a result of Ebola virus disease, other claim he was epileptic.

A resident in the community, who pleaded anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that blood was seen in some parts of the body of the deceased, raising fears that he could be suffering from the Ebola virus.

The source said the villagers covered their hands with cloths, carried the sick man into an empty bus, when he was still conscious and begged the driver to take the man to a hospital.

But the driver, who equally was afraid of being infected, refused to drive the man to the hospital and was said to have brought the sick man down from his bus.

The source further explained that it was during the mild drama that ensued between the driver and some of the residents that the man died, forcing members of the community to flee their homes.

The source said, “We are scared because we have been watching adverts on TV by the state ministry of information telling us to be vigilant of signs like blood and fever and the man was shivering.

“We saw blood and foam from his mouth, that was why everybody ran away.”

Some officials of the state ministry of health were reported to have dashed to the community to get the blood sample of the deceased and ascertain the actual cause of his death.

When contacted, the Director, Disease Control of the ministry, Dr. Osamwonyi Irowa, told our correspondent that officials of the ministry were on their way to the community to ascertain and cause of the man’s death and carry out necessary measures.

He said, “There is no case of Ebola virus disease in Edo State. We were informed that a man slumped and died in Ovia North-East. That is where we are going now to ascertain the cause of the man’s death and take proper action.”