Lassa Fever: FG Puts Nigerians on Red Alert, Sets up Surveillance System

 

Following the current disturbing outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country, the federal government has advised that citizens should be on red alert against the endemic disease.

The Minister of Environment, Mahmoud Abubakar, who gave the advice at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday revealed that the government is putting in place an environmental health and sanitation surveillance system to strengthen the cooperation between the state and federal government on environmental health and sanitation issues.

The minister also said the surveillance system would also help in information/data gathering and sharing among the federal, state and local governments.

He stressed that with the endemic nature of the disease, there's need for massive sensitisation of the citizens on prevention and control measures.

 

According to him, "As you are aware, we are currently experiencing Lassa fever outbreak in several parts of the country with reported cases of fatalities. Latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has it that 195 confirmed cases and 29 deaths have been recorded in 11 States of Nigeria namely: Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Delta, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Ogun, Abia, Kano and Enugu. Out of the confirmed cases, 89 percent are from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi States."

"The ministry has directed all environmental health professionals in the federal, state and local governments to immediately re-embark on massive awareness campaign on the need to keep the environment clean. There should be environmental health surveillance of premises to identify rodents’ harbourage, destroy and eradicate rodents in homes."

Speaking further Abubakar cautioned Nigerians against consumption or contact with rodents to avoid contacting Lassa fever.

He said: "Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodents’ urine or excreter. Citizens should stop eating rats as much as possible; keep the environment clean to avoid contact with rodents; keep food away from rodents, store grains and other food stuff in rodent proof containers; dispose wastes regularly and far away from home; cook all foods thoroughly and block rat hideouts."