Table of Contents
- Mortuary Shutdown
- Response from Health Officials
- Details of the Case
- Community Resistance
- Safe Burial
- Decontamination Measures
- Public Safety Appeal
The Benue State Government has closed a privately-owned mortuary located in Ugbokolo, within the Okpokwu Local Government Area, after local youths disregarded public health regulations by forcibly placing the remains of a confirmed Lassa fever patient in the facility.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, announced on Thursday that he led a team of senior health officials and security personnel to Okpokwu and Ogbadibo LGAs to restore order and mitigate the potential spread of the disease following the mortuary's closure.
According to Ogwuche, the deceased, a 54-year-old woman from Ogbadibo, had passed away at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, where laboratory tests confirmed her infection with Lassa fever.
He disclosed that when health ministry officials attempted to conduct a safe burial, they faced resistance from angry youths who attacked the team and took the corpse, which they later placed in the now-closed mortuary.
The commissioner noted that he acted swiftly on Wednesday by organizing a coordinated response involving community leaders, local authorities, and security agencies.
This initiative resulted in the successful recovery and safe burial of the deceased in Orokam, following guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr. Ogwuche also ordered the closure of the private hospital and mortuary until thorough decontamination, disinfection, and a complete epidemiological assessment are conducted.
“All individuals who had close contact with the deceased, including medical personnel, have been located and placed under observation. The safety of the public is our highest priority, and the government will not tolerate any actions that jeopardize lives,” he stated in Makurdi.
He further urged residents to avoid handling the remains of individuals who may have died from infectious diseases and to promptly report any symptoms such as persistent fever or unexplained bleeding to the nearest healthcare facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the mortuary shut down?
The mortuary was shut down because local youths violated public health regulations by forcibly placing the remains of a confirmed Lassa fever patient in the facility.
What actions did the government take?
The government organized a coordinated response involving health officials and security personnel to restore order, recover the deceased, and conduct a safe burial in compliance with health guidelines.
What precautions are being taken to ensure public safety?
All individuals who had close contact with the deceased are being monitored, and the public is urged to report any symptoms of infectious diseases to healthcare centers immediately.
