Palpable fear and tension is currently ravaging the peace loving Owerri, Imo state following the unconfirmed rumour of the appearance of a carrier of the dreaded Ebola disease in one of the Mbaise communities of the state.
The report has it that the suspect had escaped unnoticed from his quarantined abode in far away Enugu in Enugu state during the week to his Ahiazu LGA town of Mbaise. The rumour sent cold shivers down the spine of residents of the area and immediately spread to other parts of the state. Invariable worried and scared by the news, their has been mutual suspicion and palpable fear among the indigenes of the area who now live under tense apprehension. The report was debunked by a government appointee who though accepted that somebody came from Enugu but not Ebola virus victim.
This is coming at the heels of a national conference of the Nigerian Barr Association holding in Owerri, the Imo state capital tomorrow. Fears among residents is that the NBA Conference which will attract participants drawn across the country could pose a danger to the people.
It is worthy of note that both the Federal government and some state governments had since the outbreak of the disease done all within their powers to check the spread of the epidemic including banning of public gathering and social activities.
Considering the danger posed by the outbreak and rapid spread of the disease in the country, fears are that government and the NBA in particular should put a check on the participants especially those coming from outside the state in public interest.
Alternatively, the Nigeria Barr Association could also toe the voice of reason by postponing the said conference now that the spread of the disease is still at its highest level within the society.
