Fear and confusion pervaded Anambra State yesterday following the discovery of a corpse of a native of the state brought from Liberia last weekend and deposited in a mortuary (name withheld) in Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.Already, the state government has sealed off the hospital, and quarantined some of the workers and patients, as there was suspicion that the corpse might be Ebola-affected coming from Liberia, a country associated with the virus.
Also, the Federal Ministry of Health has dispatched a team of medical experts to Anambra State to carry out necessary tests on the corpse and if necessary, the workers.
The state Police Command had also been directed by Governor Willie Obiano to cordon off the place to avoid influx of people until necessary tests were carried out.
Briefing newsmen yesterday on the discovery, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, said a good citizen informed the ministry of the presence of the corpse from Liberia and because of the effect of the virus in that country, the state government decided to mobilise to do the needful.
Akabuike said: “Part of this briefing is to tell you what we are doing to make sure we don’t allow the deadly virus to come into this state, and what actually called for this is that we have a report that a corpse was brought into the state through Lagos and the deceased was said to have been brought from Liberia, where, of course, you know, there were cases of Ebola virus.
“The corpse is said to have been brought to Nigeria and deposited somewhere in Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State and the Ministry of Health has been alerted. That is why we are taking all these measures. We have already identified the mortuary and also informed the epidemiology unit of the Federal Ministry of Health and they are coming to help us screen the workers and the patients, and prevent it from spreading.
“We have collected all the necessary protective garments, we have sealed the hospital and quarantined all the persons, every person that had contact with the corpse; the morticians, the nurses and doctors in the hospital, even the relations of the victim. We are doing this so that they will be screened to make sure they are not infected in any way.”
The commissioner assured the people of the state that the ministry was equal to the task and had fully mobilised in case of any eventuality.
He expressed surprise that the corpse came into the country and the state without being checked at the ports.
Source: The Sun