RIVERS State Chairman of the Veterinary Doctors Association, Dr. Nathaniel Bakura, has warned that continuous bush burning during the farming season may displace the virus causing Lassa fever from their natural habitat and precipitate the rodents to run into residential abodes.
Bakura told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, that rats running away from burning bush may find their way to houses and have contacts with humans and increase the possibility of the rats infecting humans with Lassa fever, hence the need to reduce bush burning.
Meanwhile, Lagos State government yesterday denied that two more persons have died of the fever in the state.State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said though investigations had commenced on two reported deaths in Ijede, Ikorodu area of the state, but none of their findings have confirmed that they were Lassa related.
According to Bakura: “Most people through the traditional way of farming engage in bush-burning. It is not a good at all as the fire creates a harsh and hostile environment for the rats which are being smoked out, and they consequently, look for new homes.
“In communities, homes or offices that are not well kept, the rodents have the opportunity to come in. So, when we understand this, we will be able to contain the spread of Lassa fever. we need to collaborate through a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach involving medical doctors; veterinary doctors; animal scientists, ecologists, health officers, communities and others.”
“In communities, homes or offices that are not well kept, the rodents have the opportunity to come in. So, when we understand this, we will be able to contain the spread of Lassa fever. we need to collaborate through a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach involving medical doctors; veterinary doctors; animal scientists, ecologists, health officers, communities and others.”
He added that other sectors,“including the ministries of agriculture, health, information, as well as environment must collaborate to contain the spread of Lassa fever .”
Idris on Tuesday said that the number of Lassa fever related death so far in the remains one from three infected cases, though the number of persons under surveillance has increased to 448.He said: “Nothing has really changed. But there is a case we are investigating. Until our officials come back, we cannot give details. We were alerted on Monday. We have already sent our people to Ijede to investigate. When our people come, we will brief the media on the outcome of their investigation. So far, we only have three confirmed cases. One is dead already. But we are following up over 448 contacts of the three cases in different parts of the state.
“None of them has developed any symptom that will suggest that they are infested. Each of them will be followed for 21 days. But on the reported case, until we get the full details, we cannot confirm the status of the suspect,” Idris said.
The commissioner, however, reiterated that there is no need to panic, saying that the same successful measures used in combating Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) were been used to tackle Lassa fever as well.
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