Delta Commences Fumigation Of Public Places Over Lassa Fever Outbreak In 7 States

In a bid to proactively respond to the recently confirmed outbreak of Lassa fever in seven states, the Delta State government commenced fumigation of public places including markets/hospitals in the state that have the potentials of housing vectors of the disease.

Barr. John Nani, the State Commissioner for Environment who confirmed the state government’s move to our reporter on Friday, said it will be counter-productive for the state’s environment ministry to lag behind while the potential threat of the disease looms in other states, including the ones that are proximate to Delta State, noting that precautionary measures remain the best approach to adopt at present.

“we are proactive on the issue, we are not waiting and keeping our hands folded for the lassa fever epidemic to become over in Delta State before we take precaution” the Commissioner said.

It would be recalled that Dr. Lawal Bakare, Communication Technical Assistant of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) had confirmed the outbreak of the fever in Nassarawa, Plateau, Ogun, Taraba, Ondo, Rivers and Edo States with significant casualties.

But the Delta State government had since last week issued a public statement, advising a public all residents of the state to adopt best hygiene proactives.

Speaking on the strategies of preventing the spread of the disease to any part of the state, Barr. Nani explained that the fumigation would assist in the routine activities of the ministry armed at checking the spread of the diseases, adding that the recently concluded periodic declination initiative of the menace of the rodents in various market places in the state.

The commissioner maintained that government will continue to provide relevant precautionary measures that citizens should adopt to avoid the epidemic, noting that the lassa fever thrives in a dirty environment, improperly exposed food items and poor personal hygiene.

“We have been giving precautionary measures to Deltans by sensitizing them on the need to do the right thing by keeping their environment clean, making sure that vectors of the diseases like rats are killed from their homes” he added.

Source: Leadership