Lassa fever: Lagos declares war on rats, kills 7,243

Lagos state government, through the Environmental Health Officers has declared war on rodents, especially rats, killing over 7,243 to curtail the outbreak of Lassa fever.

Speaking at the sensitisation campaign of the state health workers, organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs yesterday, President, Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Samuel Akingbehin, said his association had so far carried out anti-rodent exercise in eight local governments in the state.

Akingbehin said the derating exercise in Onigbongbo, Oshodi, Oke-Odo, Ikotun Idanwo, Ojuwoye, Mile 12 and Alaba-Rago, markets had led to the death of 7,243 rats. He said eradicating rats in the markets was part of the Environmental Health Officers efforts to curb the spread of Lassa fever in the state, saying the programme started on January 14.

He said: “We are not resting on our oars. We have been killing them with rodenticides. The exercise is strategic and it is our effort toward the prevention of communicable disease. “We decided to put the exercise in the evening due to the nocturnal nature of rodents and our members had recorded successes in the markets visited till date.
“It took us about three hours to cover Oshodi Market when our members went there for the exercise.

“This Monday, we will be visiting Suru-Alaba Market in Orile-Ifelodun LCDA by 6pm with about 400 EHOs to de-rat the market.

All rats in the state must die.” In his address at the sensitisation campaign, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami said one of the steps to prevent the spread of Lassa fever is to avoid contacts with rats.

The commissioner said Lagos State, being a pro-active and responsive government has provided drugs and other materials that have been prepositioned at designated facilities across the state. 

National Mirror