Lassa fever: Delta advises residents to be vigilant

The Delta State Ministry of Environment has advised residents to strictly observe personal hygiene following the reported outbreak of the dreaded Lassa Fever in neighbouring Edo State.

Apart from Edo state, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also confirmed fresh outbreaks of the dreaded disease in Nasarawa, Plateau, Ogun, Taraba, Ondo and Rivers states.

About 56 people were quarantined in Delta State between last August and September, following the outbreak of the epidemic that resulted in the death of an Asaba-based medical doctor.

A statement in Asaba yesterday by the Director of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor, listed the causes of Lassa Fever to include dirty environment, exposure of food items to rat and lack of personal hygiene.

Osahor advised the people to keep their surroundings clean, fumigate their environments to drive rodents out of homes and cover
their food items properly.