Patient ‘recovering’ from monkeypox commits suicide

A patient receiving medical care for monkeypox at the quarantine centre in Bayelsa state has committed suicide.

Ebitimitula Etebu, the state commissioner for health, who disclosed this at a press conference in Yenagoa, the state capital, said the incident happened in the early hours of Monday.

He said the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of the virus being managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH).

Etebu said the patient did not die from the disease, adding that his medical history did not suggest any sign of depression.

He also expressed regret that the patient took his own life “despite speedily recovering from the disease”.

While sympathising with the family, the commissioner said a committee had been set up to evaluate his past clinical and social history “to determine if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

He assured the public that the government was “doing everything” to contain the outbreak and ensure all patients receive appropriate care and treatment.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state commissioner for information and orientation, who was also at the conference, urged residents to continue to use preventive measures to stem the spread of the disease.

TheCable had highlighted some of such measures and the things to know about the virus here.