Have the gods visited Ondo with a plague?

The strange ailment that has hit Ode Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government area of Ondo State, has convinced a good number of the residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer places.

The town is now wearing a very quiet, empty look as more the death toll from the strange ailment that has plagued the town since Wednesday rose to 17.

The state government on Friday confirmed that 17 persons had died from the disease, an increase from the 12 that were originally confirmed. Some sources said the death toll resulting from the disease may be as high as 30.

While the government said the cause of the ailment was not known, other sources from the community blamed the death on some people that defiled the shrine of the community deity known as Malokun, when they stole some artifacts from the shrine.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko said samples collected did not show that the victims died of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and that it was a major health challenge because the causative agents, diagnosis and cure are also yet to be determined.

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