Health
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Lassa fever in Ondo State, a medical expert, Dr Akintunde Ogunseyifunmi, has urged residents to launch attack on rats to curb the disease.
Ogunseyifunmi, the acting Chief Medical Director, Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that residents must also ensure hygienic environment to save them from the deadly disease.
The medical doctor, who said that there was no record of Lassa fever in Okitipupa council area, said that several measures had been put in place to prevent the spread of the disease.
“It is true that Lassa fever is back in Ondo State but we have yet to record any case in Okitipupa and its environs. That is why we are putting series of preventive measures in place against the spread of the disease.
“We have put in place series of equipment and we are also educating our doctors, nurses and other medical workers on the symptoms and the handling of patients with the disease.
“The dry season and bush burning by residents have made rats to look for foods in houses and unhygienic environment, which aid the spread of the virus.
“Residents should not spare rats in their houses and surroundings; they should cover their foodstuffs properly, avoid spreading food items by the road sides, imbibe thorough hand washing and maintain hygienic environment,” he advised.
The medical expert listed the symptoms of Lassa fever to include fever, sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, bloody diarrhoea, cough, headache, abdominal pain and bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears and eyes.
He urged residents with high malaria or any of the symptoms to quickly go to any government hospital, saying that proper arrangement had been made for their treatment.
NAN reports that Lassa fever is caused by Lassa virus found in infected rats, with many breasts (multimate rat) known as Mastonys Matalensis, which spread the disease through its faeces and urine.
NAN also reports that no fewer than 84 cases of Lassa fever had been recorded in Owo, Akoko South-West, Akure South and Ondo West councils of the state. (NAN)
– Jan. 27, 2020 @ 16:05 GMT |
Tags: ensure hygienic environment Lassa fever: Expert urges Ondo residents to eliminate rats
