Lassa
By Ojo Oluwafemi
Akure, Jan. 21, 2021(NAN) The Ondo State Government has distributed 10,000 poisons to residents of Ayede Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area for the purpose of killing Rats in the community to curb further spread of Lassa fever.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Stephen Fagbemi made this known on Thursday to residents of Ayede Ogbese at an awareness campaign tagged “End Lassa Now”.
Dr Fagbemi who was represented by the Assistant State Epidemiologist, Dr Dolani Gbelela, said the state is now the epicenter of Lassa fever in the country.
Gbelela said 423 cases of Lassa fever were recorded in 2020 out of which 81 persons died, representing 34 percent of Lassa Fever related deaths in Nigeria.
Gbelela stated that Lassa Fever is of a greater burden to the state, hence the need for the campaign, and advocated that necessary measures be put in place to eradicate the scourge where those mostly affected were between 21 and 30 years.
The Assistant State Epidemiologist opined that the effort of the State government at eradicating rats in the state since the campaign was lunched last month is beginning to yield results as over 3000 rats were killed at Owo after the rat poisons were distributed to residents.
The Special Adviser to the Governor and Acting Commissioner for Health, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye, said Lassa Fever has killed many people in the state since it was first discovered in Ose local government.
According to him,the scourge which was usually experienced in Ose and some LGAs sharing borders with Edo State, has spread to over five other LGAs, hence the need for the aggressive exercise being embarked upon.
Dr Adeyeye further said the good news is that no Lassa Fever mortality has been recorded this year and that all hands are on deck to ensure non is recorded.
He then urged all residents of Ogbese to play their role in preventing the outbreak of the disease by cleaning their environments, clearing all bushes around their houses, disposing of refuse properly as well as killing all rats in their surroundings.
The Odopetu of Ogbese, Chief Oladimeji Abitogun, said proper attention should be given to Lassa Fever just as is being given to insurgency, COVID-19 and other life threatening matters as every life is important.
Abitogun said more deaths have been recorded from Lassa fever than COVID-19 in the state.
The Commissioner for Works, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye admonished residents in their local language advising that they must join hands with government to put an end to Lassa Fever and it’s menace.
The Regent of Ayede Ogbese, Bukola Akinyede appealed to the government to accord Ayede Ogbese the kind of attention it accords other cities in the clearing and disposal of refuse, while promising to do all that is within her power to ensure Ayede Ogbese is clean and free of rats.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever mainly dominated Akure North council area which led to deaths in 2019 and which has attracted promt government attention to the area and some other parts of the state.
