The
Lagos State government, yesterday, stressed the need for residents to
maintain adequate personal and environmental hygiene at all times as
part of the precautionary measures to prevent outbreak of Lassa fever in
the state.
In order to prevent Lassa fever outbreak which has been reported in
some parts of the country, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide
Idris, at the weekend advised residents to avoid contact with rats,
cover their food and water properly, cook all their food thoroughly, as
well as block all rat hideouts and holes through which rats can enter
the house against contacting the disease.
He similarly stressed the importance of storing grains and other
dried food items in containers with covers, properly disposing of
refuse, maintaining adequate sanitation, as well as avoiding pets like
cats in the house.
According to Idris, Lassa fever is an acute viral infection caused by
the Lassa virus that is associated with persistent high fever.
He added that as the disease progresses into a severe form, the
patient begins to develop facial swelling, fluid in the chest, bleeding
from the mouth, nose, v**ina and the gut, low blood pressure, shock,
disorientation, coma and kidney and liver failure.
According to him, other usual symptoms include general weakness, headache, sore throat, nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
“Lassa fever is an acute viral infection caused by the Lassa virus
and associated with persistent high fever. It is spread by exposure to
and eating of foods contaminated with rat droppings or urine. It is also
spread by direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces or other bodily
secretions of persons with Lassa fever.”
He therefore, urged the public to report the case of anybody with the
above symptoms or persistent high fever not responding to standard
treatment for malaria and typhoid fever to the nearest health facility
in the state just as he advised health workers to ensure that they take
universal safety precautions when dealing with patients.
The commissioner noted that though Lagos state is not in the Lassa
fever belt region, a lot of people migrate to Lagos from different parts
of the country, including the Lassa fever belt region but added that it
is nevertheless necessary to alert members of the public on the need to
practice and maintain adequate personal and environmental hygiene at
all times as it is only by so doing that the outbreak of the disease in
the state can be prevented.
He also advised them to contact the Directorate of Disease Control in
the state Ministry of Health or the following telephone: numbers
08023228573, 08023213333 or 08023044194 for more information on the
disease.
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