Lassa Fever, Under Control in Rivers – Commissioner

The Rivers State Government says it has brought the Lasssa Fever epidemic under  control.

Director, Primary Healthcare, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Akuro Okujagu, who made the declaration, said no new cases of the disease had been recorded since its initial outbreak in the state.

Dr Akuro Okuyagu further said the ministry was educating people on the epidemic and urged residents of the state to take precautions against the disease.

Meanwhile, residents of Port Harcourt have appealed to the state government to intensify their efforts in the campaign for cleaner environment in all the major markets in the state to prevent the further spread of the Lassa Fever epidemic.

They expressed fear that the unhygienic state of the markets would encourage the spread of the disease and appealed to the state ministries of Health and Environment, to embark on programmes that would educate the people on the need for cleanliness.

They stressed that the state Ministry of Health through the Commissioner, Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker should organise sensitisation workshops in market and other social centres to create awareness on the carrier rats, noting that most of the traders in the markets do not know the causes of Lassa Fever and its mode of transmission.

Mr Emmanuel Ojeh noted that most traders park their wears under their tables at the close of each business day, with little or no serious effort to properly protect them from being feasted on by rats resident in filthy, blocked drainages surrounding the markets and dustbins littered all over the place.

Expressing dismay over the poor sanitary conditions of markets in the state, he blamed the situation on corrupt practices of the leaders who instead of building befitting markets with shades and locks diverted public funds for their own selfish interests.

In her own views, Mrs Ibinabo Joseph called on the government to take further steps by fumigating the markets against these rodents.

According to her, a lot need to be done on the abattoirs and meat sellers stand in the market. The state of the places is capable of attracting influenza to the state. She pleaded that something be done especially with this outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.

Already, the state commissioner of Health Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker has appealed to residents to shun self medication and take advantage of government health facilities across the state whenever they have any health challenge.

He noted that treatment of Lassa Fever attack is free in any of the government institutions and urged that anybody with serious fever, neck pain, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, swollen face, vomiting and nausea among other signs should rush to any of the hospitals for diagnosis and treatment. The commissioner maintained that the sixteen breasted rat disease is highly contagious and presently incurable but could be treated if reported early to the hospital. He urged residents to suspect every rat both at home and market places and avoid their droppings especially on their foods.

He hinted that the state government was making efforts to set up Lassa Fever Laboratory in the state for quicker medical interventions.

Tonye Nria-Dappa