BREAKING: Bayelsa Govt Confirms Monkey Pox Patient Commits Suicide

The Bayelsa State Government has confirmed that one of the patients receiving medical care for Monkey Pox at the quarantine centre in the state has committed suicide.

State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, while briefing newsmen in Yenagoa, over the development, said the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of Monkey pox that were being managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.

Flanked by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Medical Director of the NDUH and other senior health officials, the Health Commissione, expressed regret that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease ‎and stated that his medical history did not suggest any mental illness or features of depression.

Etebu maintained the patient did not die from the disease, adding that the police and his family have been duly informed and all due diligence is being followed for the eventual respectful and safe burial.

While sympathizing with the family, the Commissioner informed that a committee has been put in place to evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history to determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

Meanwhile Prof. Etebu has confirmed that truly it is Monkey pox that is in the state ‎following laboratory confirmation.

He however assured the general public again that the government is doing everything to contain the outbreak and ensure all patients receive appropriate care and treatment.

Iworiso-Markson on his part urged residents to continue to use preventive measures and ensure they avoid bushmeats and other causes of the disease.

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