Benue Govt attributes death of alleged Coronavirus victim to leukemia

From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Government has insisted that the case of death attributed to Coronvirus in the State, is untrue, maintaining that the victim died of Leukemia.
Deputy of the State Engr. Benson Abounu who is also, the Chairman of the State Action Committee on COVID-19 said this yesterday while briefing the media at Government House, Makurdi.
Engr. Abounu explained that the victim (whose name he did not disclose) had undergone a major operation for.Cancer of the bone marrow.
“He was torn open from top. Three (3) days after the operation, he started coughing and then, we took his sample to Abuja and the result came out positive for Coronavirus last week Friday, 19 June, 2020.It is difficult to survive such operation. At this point, it is difficult to say that the man died of Coronavirus.
“We gave succeeded in tracing over 100 persons who had contact with the deceased including 56 health workers while samples of his family members and sympathizers have been taken to Abuja for testing “, Abounu intimated.
The Action Committee Chair further disclosed that the State figure stands at 47,breakdown which shows that 26 male and 21 female are infected with the disease.
“ One case appeared not to be our patient because he came into Benue, we traced him and took his sample. But as soon as that was done, he fled and went back to where he came. His sample turned out positive.
“We have tested and discharged 16 persons while there are 30 patients at isolation/ treatment centers at the Federal Medical Center and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH which has enough facilities to take care of them in terms of material and personnel.”