22-year old man suspected to have died of Ebola at Ndop

A 22 year old man died Wednesday at Ndop District Hospital and his death has been linked to the deadly Ebola virus.

The Journal was unable to confirm the name of the deceased immediately.

However, a reliable source that spoke to us from Ndop, divisional headquarters of Ngohketungjia Divison where the boy died, said the victim was rushed into Ndop Tuesday from a Yaoundé hospital and he died Nov. 12.

Our source said the boy was brought in from Yaoundé without the knowledge of the parents.

“The boy was brought into town Tuesday evening from Yaoundé. He is alleged to have been working there. Upon receiving the news the parents (who are based in Ndop) were surprised to hear that their son is in the hospital, only to get there and see him in a critical condition.” Our source said.

The parents were however, reluctant to speak to the press. “What for now is confirmed is that a boy of about 22 was rushed into the Ndop District hospital Tuesday evening with blood flowing out of his body through the capillaries and he died the next day, Wednesday morning, and it has been suspected to be an Ebola infection".

As investigations were launched, the Journal gathered that the remains were hastily buried by Ndop Council officials in the council premises.

Our source, explaining why it had to be the council authorities rather than the family of the deceased doing the burial, said; “You know with Ebola cases the parents have no right over the corpse and since all the signs and symptoms of Ebola were present, the parents were not even allowed to come close to the corpse.”

If this is eventually confirmed to be an Ebola death, this would be the first real Ebola case to surface in Cameroon. We will bring further developments as we get them.