Lassa Fever: Health Ministry Tasks Edo Residents Of Proper Hygiene

The Edo State Minister of Health, has on Friday admonished residents of the state to exterminate rodents and ensure good hygiene to curb the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The State Health Education Officer in the Ministry, Mrs Helen Ehigie, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.

She said that Lassa fever is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta.

The health education officer said that the ailment could cause bleeding in eight out of every 10 persons infected with the virus.

“If it affects the liver, kidneys, or spleen, it can be fatal.

“It is spread through the excreta and urine of the multi-mammate rat (Mastomys natalensis),” she said.

The state health educator said that the Lassa fever symptoms include bleeding in the gums, nose and eyes, difficulty in breathing, cough and swollen airways.

She described the other symptoms of the ailment as vomiting and diarrhoea with blood, difficulty in swallowing, hepatitis, swollen face, pain in the chest, back and abdomen.

Ehigie warned residents on good hygiene.