Fear of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) swept across Abia State on Friday following the rumoured death of a woman said to have returned from Lagos with the killer disease virus.

It was reported that the wom- an whose name could not be ascertained as at press time and who was rumoured to be a rela- tion of the nurse who died after treating the African-American Liberian, Patrick Sawyer who brought the disease to Nigeria, returned from Lagos to Umui- tigha, her husband’s village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Gov- ernment after being infected with the virus in Lagos.

The woman after showing signs of the dreaded disease was reportedly rejected in her husband’s village, which made her to go to her village in Ndio- lumbe in the same Isiala Ngwa South Local Government.

Report has it that after sever- al attempts were made to save the woman’s life by her im- mediate family failed; she was orstracised and later died near the popular Ndiolumbe market.

It was gathered that when the news of her death filtered into the area, members of the com- munity and many shop owners around the area were forced to close for business and vacated the area for their safety.

Another version of the ru- mour had it that the woman was not dead, but that officials of the State Ministry of Health have visited the community, quarantined her and cordoned off the area.

Following the woman’s ru- moured death, fear has gripped most parts of the state as people resorted to drinking salty water and bathing with the same in the belief that it would stop the virus from affecting them. Residents of the state made early morning phone calls to their relations and loved ones advising them on the salt therapy to which many people complied with before 6 am, a time frame it was said it wouldbe effective.

Efforts to reach Abia State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah failed as he did not pick his calls, but a senior official of the Ministry who would not want his name in print said they had received the report but refused further comments

The State Govt however claims no case of Ebola was reported in the state. In fact, the Government's response raises more questions than it answers.

T A Orji:

Orji, who debunked the rumour on Friday, at a press briefing in Umuahia, blamed enemies of the state for the speculation. He urged members of the public to disregard the rumour.

His said, “The rumour that there is Ebola in Abia is not true, and I want to state categorically that there is no case of Ebola in Abia, and we are praying that there will be none.”

It had been reported that an Ebola patient had been quarantined somewhere at Isialangwa, about 12 kilometres from the state capital.

But, Orji said, “ I have an authentic report from a specialist, a medical consultant, who confirmed to me that he had personally investigated the said case, and discovered that it was not Ebola.

“I speak authoritatively because the report is from an official whom I trust and who is a specialist in the medical field, and I want you to believe him because if it is Ebola he would have told me so that we will take prompt action. He cannot be hiding it to jeopardise the lives of Abians,” he said.

He, however, noted that precautionary measures, including the inauguration of a team of health experts, had been taken by the government to prevent the virus from spreading to Abia.

Orji said the state had placed order for kits to be used by medical personnel [/b]in the eventuality of Ebola outbreak in the state.

Abia Commissioner for Health:

Ogah said in a telephone interview on Friday that the suspected outbreak of the disease in Isialangwa South Local Government Area was [b]mere speculation.
He said the case had not been confirmed, adding that the matter had been reported to the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, for necessary action.
“We have contacted Abuja over the matter because we do not have the scientific laboratory to carry out the test for the Ebola virus,’’ he said.
The commissioner said also that the suspected patient was not quarantined.
“[b]People are freely having contacts with the woman but nobody has contracted the disease since she was brought back,’’ [/b]he said.
He explained that information available to him showed that she was brought back from Lagos by her husband and dumped in the village.
“The husband did not even drop her in their own place, hence the widespread speculation that she was suffering from Ebola disease,’’ he said.

Source Links:
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=76141
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/health-commissioner-denies-ebola-outbreak-abia/
http://www.punchng.com/news/abia-dispels-ebola-rumour/

lwkmd... Ignorant villagers advising people to bath with salty water. Naija we hail thee..

Ftc

Make the news better be FALSE, Coz we all know how Abia state is without Ebola, if Ebola come enter nko? Everything will become worst coz it doesn't look like the state govt is ready to do anything or have plans put in place just like other states In case there is/are reported case(s) of Ebola in d state.

If this is true then I really fear the worst!!!!!

commissioner say no equip to test ebola gov say him sure ebola no dey abia

whom to believe?

Meanwhile other states don map out ebola centers wt committees bt T A n Ukwa Ngwa dey drag who go b next gov

make God save us cos Aba dirty no b small. If ebola enter i fear d worst