Ebola Virus rumours causing panic in the North West Region

The deadly Ebola virus recently attributed to the dead US Soldier of Cameroon origin is causing panic in Bamenda.

If not well managed by the Public Health Administration Service, it might have far reaching implications in that volatile region writes our US Bureau Chief Bertrand Etukeni Agbaw-Ebai.

As the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus wreck havoc across West African countries and the World, International and Non Governmental organisation are on the alert to fight, prevent the spread of this killer disease that has affected political, economic, social and sporting activities.

It did not take long for fears to emanate in Metropolitan Bamenda when a US soldier Clement Bongham of Cameroon origin who some unconfirmed reports hinted had been on a peace mission in Sierra Leon returned home, got sick and died at the Bamenda Regional Hospital.

The controversy came from the fact that the said US soldier met his death after he returned from an Ebola affected nation of West Africa. This has caused total fears and unprecedented panic across the local population affecting the deceased family burial arrangements. It should be recalled that the North West region of Cameroon is very volatile and susceptible to any rumours which once it fancy with mongers they fly with it.

At the time of writing this report, the remains of Clement Bongham were at the mortuary of the regional hospital while the deceased wife and the kids were said to be in the United States of America.

The confusion and fears as a result of the death is having a spiral effect and resonates making the Public Health hierarchy of the North West Region, Dr. Kingue Thompson Njie to issue a statement via Cameroon Tribune that Clement Bongham died of severe malaria.

He further added that the patient was rushed to the hospital with signs of fever, fatigue and yellowish eyes. Cameroon Concord later gathered that prior to admission, his medical record stated he had been properly treated for dysentery, vomiting and lose stool.

It is against this backdrop that the local population is attributing it to Ebola. In a telephone conversation with Clement`s father, Bongham Odilos Ndze and mother Yayie Ngeh Beata, both parents were shocked about the escalation of Ebola as the cause of the dead.

Dr. Kingue Thompson Njie warned the rumour mongers and advised the Bamenda population to stay clear of any misleading information and the temptation of believing rumours. Cameroon Concord investigation revealed that the late Clement Bongham was not returning from any US Ebola mission in Africa.