Delta state government has insisted there is no case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) anywhere in the state and encouraged residents not to panic but remain vigilant, just as it described rumour bearers as uninformed people.

Statements signed by the Delta state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq and made available to Blank NEWS Online reads:

“The Delta State Government hereby assures all residents that there is no Ebola patient in the state. All stories about an EVD patient or death in any hospital in Delta State should be disregarded as mere rumours from uninformed people.

“We hereby declare emphatically that there is no Ebola outbreak in Delta State. All residents should go about their normal duties without any fear. However, we urge everybody to remain vigilant.”

It recalled that “On Thursday, September 4, 2014, a woman who arrived from Lagos checked into the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba seeking medical attention.

“While waiting to be attended to by the medical personnel, the subject showed the level of discomfiture that elicited suspicions of a probable Ebola disease.

“The subject was isolated while samples of her blood were taken to test for Ebola. On Friday, September 05, 2014, the result turned out negative to Ebola Virus Disease. The patient has since been admitted into FMC Asaba and is receiving treatment for the other ailments that were diagnosed.

“Earlier, a similar rumour over the death of another lady at Eku Specialist Hospital, Eku had also proved negative. The woman, a diabetic patient, had checked into the hospital on returning from a visit to Port Harcourt but died on Thursday, September 4, 2014, a development that aroused suspicions of Ebola disease. It eventually emerged that the woman’s health was exacerbated by her high intake of salt when people were falsely led to believe that drinking salt solutions would stave off Ebola Virus Disease.

“Deltans and all residents of Delta State are hereby assured that the state remains Ebola-free while the Inter-Ministerial Ebola Virus Outbreak Preparedness and Response Committee is working round the clock to monitor and evaluate every suspected case.

“While we encourage every resident to remain vigilant, care must be taken not to engage in wild speculations that trigger panic among the people.

Rather engage in uninformed speculations, anybody concerned about his or her observations should contact the committee on the dedicated lines.
The lines are: 08037857479, 08063927202, 07037120510 and 08037438829 while the SMS Centre is 32581.”