A medical laboratory scientist, Dr Dibal Wandali, has urged Nigerians to protect food and drinks from contamination by infected multimammate rats to help prevent Lassa fever.
Wandali made the call in an interview with reporters in Biu on Wednesday, warning that the country was approaching the peak of the Lassa fever season.
He said the season, which typically runs from October to May, coincides with increased rodent activity. He urged households to take preventive measures against infection.
Wandali, a director at General Hospital, Biu, described Lassa fever as a viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with infected people or Mastomys rats. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant.
He said that as the weather became drier, malaria cases might decline, while bacterial infections, particularly pneumonia and tuberculosis, could become more prevalent.
“During this period, the major concern is Lassa fever, as increased harvesting activities and bush burning could force rodents out of their natural habitats in search of safer shelter, such as human homes.
“When vegetation is destroyed, these rats may move into settlements and houses in search of food.
“Once inside homes, they contaminate food with their urine and droppings. For instance, they may urinate or defecate on stored food such as garri.
“People sometimes consume garri without cooking it, simply soaking it in water and adding sugar. In such circumstances, contaminated food can expose them to the Lassa fever virus.
“So I call on Nigerians: do not leave food unprotected. Rodents can contaminate food with their urine, droppings and other body fluids, potentially causing Lassa fever.
“Protect your household by not drying food on bare ground, keeping food and drinks away from areas accessible to rodents, and storing food in tightly covered containers,” he said.
Wandali also urged residents to watch out for tuberculosis and asthma attacks, which he said could become more common during the Harmattan season because of cold weather, dust and hazy conditions.
He further advised Nigerians to seek medical attention when they experienced unusual symptoms, rather than resorting to self-medication or making assumptions.
“When someone develops a persistent cough accompanied by fever and sometimes headaches, it should not automatically be assumed to be malaria or typhoid.
“If the condition becomes severe, the person may also experience vomiting. These symptoms could indicate pneumonia, particularly when the infection has affected the lungs.
“The first thing people should do when they notice unusual symptoms or feel unwell is visit a hospital for proper medical evaluation and treatment,” he said.
