Panic in Kano as rumor says 150 people died in 3 days. This information is coming from the undertakers at the cemetery who claimed that the number of bodies they buried over the weekend across three cemeteries is alarming. It is suspected that this might be from a strange ailment although none is pointing yet to the possibility of coronavirus.
Although there is no report that these people died as a result of coronavirus, the multiple deaths has caused undue panic and fear across eight local governments in the state.
However, the NCDC as at Monday April 20th said that only 59 cases have been confirmed in Kano State with only one death.
Panic in Kano as Rumor Says 150 People Died in 3 Days: People’s Testimony
“This is worrisome, we are becoming overwhelmed by what we are seeing here these days because to me, the way people are dying is not ordinary” a testimony from one of the undertakers at Dandolo Cemetery in Goron Dutse, Dala Local Government Area, Mohammed Bashir.
Also, Abattoir Cemetery in Kofar Mazugal claims it buried 61 persons over the weekend.
Some families of the multiple deceased have called on the government to intervene as the cause of the deaths is not known yet.
Panic in Kano as Rumor Says 150 People Died in 3 Days: Government Should Intervene
The chairman of Fagge Cemetery Committee called on the government to intervene as the death numbers keep rising. He said these deaths are not as a result of coronavirus but malaria and typhoid fever as they are overly exposed to mosquito bites. He claimed that the area usually suffers this at this time of the year.
“This is not coronavirus as speculated; it is severe malaria because of our exposure to mosquito bites. We have been battling this kind of experience almost on yearly bases around this time.
“So, we are praying to the government to come to our rescue because this malaria is deadly than the COVID-19,” he said.
Panic in Kano as Rumor Says 150 People Died in 3 Days: Ministry of Health Investigating the Matter
The state ministry of health has, however, come out to intervene and says it is investigating the matter.
A statement signed by the information officer of the ministry, Hadiza M. Namadi said,
“The attention of Kano State Ministry of Health has been drawn to a post being circulated on social media platforms on purported death of a number of people within two days and buried in some cemeteries within Kano metropolis.
“As the ministry could not immediately verify the veracity of the claim going round, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, hereby assured the general public that investigation into the matter is ongoing to verify the claim and possible causes of the deaths.
Panic in Kano as Rumor Says 150 People Died in 3 Days
“Dr Tsanyawa also assured that the public will be informed on the outcome of the investigation in due course.
“While he prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed, the commissioner also advised people to continue to observe social distancing, wash hands regularly, avoid gatherings and stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” the statement said.
The ministry has also urged people to disregard the rumour that the deaths are as a result of coronavirus.
Panic in Kano as Rumor Says 150 People Died in 3 Days
