Amidst the rising cases of Lassa fever, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued a crucial advisory, urging Nigerians to store food items properly and ensure they are inaccessible to rats.
In a statement shared on its official X handle, the NCDC highlighted that Lassa fever can be transmitted through food contaminated with the urine and faeces of infected rats.
As of February 22, 2024, the NCDC reported a total of 2,122 suspected cases, 411 confirmed cases, and 72 deaths from Lassa fever nationwide. These cases span across 21 states and 78 local government areas.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, with the Mastomys natalensis rodent serving as its natural reservoir. Additionally, other rodents can also carry the virus.
The virus can spread through various means, including direct contact with infected rats’ bodily fluids, contamination of household items and surfaces by these fluids, consumption of contaminated food or water, and person-to-person transmission through contact with infected individuals’ bodily fluids.
Given the severity of the disease and its transmission modes, the NCDC’s advice underscores the importance of proper food storage practices and rat control measures in preventing the spread of Lassa fever.
