Udo man died of Peptic Ulcer, not Ebola - Edo Govt.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State

By JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State
Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State

Medical test conducted on the man who died last Sunday at Udo in Ovia South West local government area of Edo State, revealed that the deceased died of bleeding from peptic ulcer and not Ebola as feared by residents of the community.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, who made this disclosure in Benin ‎on Tuesday, reaffirmed that no case of Ebola has been recorded in the state.

It would be recalled that members of the community were thrown into a state of anxiety and panic, following bleeding observed on the deceased before he died‎ as they feared that the man may have died from the dreaded virus.

This prompted officials of the state ministry of health to move to the community to isolate the corpse and commence investigations to ascertain the cause of death.

In a press statement issued in Benin, Odion explained that “following reports of a suspicious death in Udo Town in Ovia South West last week, officials of the State Ministry of Health moved in to ascertain the cause. Specimens were taken from the body and taken to the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

“However, preliminary examinations revealed that the deceased died of bleeding from peptic ulcer. To be sure, further examinations are still ongoing at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.”

Related News

On the efforts made by the state government to ensure that the state is free from the dreaded disease, Odion said “public enlightenment has been stepped up by the Ministry of Information and Orientation, even as the surveillance team raised by the Governor, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, has set to work.

“Working directly with health officials of the 18 councils, the surveillance team is headed by the Health Commissioner, assisted by the Director of Disease Control, Dr. Osamuyi Williams Irowa. The team has activated monitors in 192 wards across the state. Authorities at the Irrua Specialist Hospital are working closely with the State Ministry of Health for referrals and quarantine wards.”

He urged members of public to be vigilant and report any abnormality to health officials, even as he enjoined them to improve on their personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly with soap and water.

Meanwhile, sudden increase in the demand for germs disinfectants otherwise known as “instant hand sanitizer” has resulted in scarcity of the product as well as hike in its price in Benin City.

The product has suddenly disappeared on the shelves of many pharmaceutical stores in the state capital, thereby necessitating those that are in need to ask for the product outside the state capital.

A source at Zoro pharmaceutical store, located along Airport Road, said the product has suddenly become a fast moving consumer goods following the suspected outbreak of Ebola virus in the country.

Load more