The spokesperson of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia, State, Mrs. Adanma Odefa Wachukwu, yesterday, debunked claim that two of their students died of pandemic-related causes within one week.

She asserted this in a statement, saying the university management was saddened by the false report, alleging outbreak of undisclosed pandemic in the university that is killing students.

She, however, confirmed that a male and female student, whose names she did not disclose, died recently from completely unrelated pandemic causes.

Wachukwu said: “The female student visited the University Health Services Department (clinic) and although she was unregistered, she was immediately attended to, but doctors discovered she had a botched abortion that had become septic.”

“She was promptly referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, a full fledged hospital equipped to deal with severe cases, where she died.”

The spokesperson explained that the late male student collapsed on the walkway and was rushed to the university clinic, and although he was also unregistered, doctors and nurses battled to save his life.

“When he was brought in, he had no pulse and his vital signs were failing. He was promptly loaded into the university’s ambulance and rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where he was declared dead,” she said.

Declaring that the university clinic treats all students in an emergency, Wachukwu stressed that there was no wrongdoing on the university’s part in the two cases.

“The management is deeply saddened by the loss of these young lives and heartily condole with their families. It is compulsory under our rules and regulations for all students to be registered with the University Health Services Department. It is also pertinent for students to avail themselves of the clinic services at the earliest signs of ill health.

“The university has provided a well-maintained and well-staffed clinic, with a standby functional ambulance to serve our university community…

“I categorically state that there is no pandemic in our university and no other student, aside from the two aforementioned unfortunate incidents, died in the university,” she said.