According to the association, "this statistics is alarming, especially when we realize that a total of 5,000 people die annually from the disease in West Africa." and Nigeria has more than one-third of that figure.
Mr. Ayo Ogunyedeka, President, PECAN, said Lassa fever is an acute viral infection caused by the Lassa virus, caused by rats that could be found anywhere.
He said the virus was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa in Borno State, which lent it the name lassa fever.
According to him, "the virus lives in rats and infects human beings when they come in contact with rats droppings, urine and food contaminated with them, and saliva of rodents.
He stated that the rate of the sickness is higher during the dry season because rats are
mammals and roam around freely during this period."
Ogunyedeka gave symptoms to include; general fever, headache, chest pain, sore throat, incessant cough,
diarrhea and general weakness.
While Preventive measures to combat the epidemic includes:
- good personal hygiene,
- good environmental hygiene,
- good and regular pest control, and
- consulting professionals like PECAN, among others.
Very seriously : Don't leave your food uncovered and poorly packaged. It could hurt.
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