Metro Lassa Fever: Lagos Residents Declare War on Rats

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The Lagos State government, in the alert issued through the Ministry of Health and signed by the Commissioner, Dr Jide Idris, had stated that, “For prevention and control of Lassa fever, the general public is urged to avoid contact between rats and human beings; observe good personal hygiene, including hand washing with soap and running water regularly; dispose waste properly and clean the environment so that rats are not attracted.”

The recent outbreak of the contagious Lassa fever in some states of the federation has attracted widespread attention and much concern, with the three tiers of government working hard to contain the disease that had, as at last weekend, claimed 40 lives out of the 86 confirmed cases in the affected 10 states, Daily trust reports.

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The states, namely, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Gombe, Plateau, Oyo, Edo and Rivers, are in fear and confusion, while some yet-to-be-affected and unaffected states such as Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Imo, Enugu and others, are making strident efforts and embarking on awareness programmes to ensure that the disease does not spread to their states.

According to Daily Trust, the residents have devised ingenious ways of ensuring that they do not fall victim of the disease. They have virtually declared war on rats, as many now go on rats-killing spree, having been alerted that contact with infected rats and their droppings and fluids is the main cause of Lassa fever.


DailyTrust
 
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