Chioma Umeha
The Lagos State Government has again reiterated
the need for members of the public to ensure and maintain adequate personal
hygiene and environmental sanitation at all times as part of prevention and
control measures against the spread of the Lassa fever disease in the State.
In a statement issued and signed by the Dr. Jide
Idris, Commissioner for Health,
the state government noted that that the prevention and control of the disease
remains a shared responsibility for all citizens through observance of the
highest possible standards of personal and community hygiene as well as
environmental sanitation.
Idris enjoined residents to store household refuse
in sanitary refuse bags or dustbins with tight-fitting covers to avoid
infestation by rats and rodents; dispose refuse properly at designated dump
sites and not into the drainage system and store food items in rodent-proof
containers, adding that it is by so doing that a habitable and conducive
environment and a disease-free State can be achieved.
“Members of the public are further advised to
avoid contact with rats, to always cover their food and water properly, cook
all their food thoroughly, as well as block all holes in the septic tanks and
holes through which rats can enter the house and clear rat hideouts within the
premises”, he said.
While outlining strategies put in place by the
State government to control the disease, the Commissioner explained that Lagos
State is maintaining relevant surveillance activities through its disease
surveillance unit to prevent the spread of the disease in Lagos.
“Isolation wards have been prepared to manage
suspected and confirmed cases, health workers have been placed on red alert and
community sensitization activities intensified, Idris noted.
Idris explained that Lassa fever is an acute viral
infection caused by the Lassa virus associated with symptoms such as persistent
high fever, general weakness of the body, malaise headache, sore throat,
nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
He added that the disease can progress into a
severe form in which case the patient develops facial swelling, fluid in the
chest, bleeding from the mouth, nose, and the gut; low blood pressure, shock,
disorientation, coma as well as kidney and liver failure.
