A source told Tribune Online on Monday that 19 other persons are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
In a swift reaction, the state government said no death has been recorded while confirming that 19 person are receiving treatment.
The outbreak occurred at Ndiegu-itsu Village in Ndieze-Echi community, Izzi Local Government Area of the state.
The source said, “from available information, five persons died while 19 are seriously sick.”
But the state Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike, who confirmed the outbreak of the disease in the state debunked the casualty figures.
He said his ministry rushed the sick patients to the state government-owned General Hospital, Iboko in the same local government area for treatment.
He, however, confirmed that 19 persons were evacuated from the village to the hospital for treatment.
“We have evacuated the patients to the hospital. They are picking up and the situation is already under control.
“You know it is only when you don’t handle it on time that it will escalate and so many people will get sick.
“I am not aware of any death. They are always quoting people as dying. Nobody has died. We responded quickly when they reported to us yesterday and moved all the patients to the general hospital at Iboko where they are responding to treatment,” he said.
Credit: Nigeria Tribune