FG launches National Deratisation framework to combat lassa fever outbreaks
By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government has announced plans to implement a comprehensive deratisation framework targeting states in a bid to curb the persistent annual outbreaks of Lassa Fever.
Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, revealed the initiative during a press conference on Monday, addressing the recent outbreak of Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF), suspected to be Lassa Fever, at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
During the briefing, Salako disclosed that the Ministry, in response to the outbreak, had assembled a team and recommended the deratisation of affected facilities to reduce the rat population, known carriers of the disease.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the minister highlighted that the team had engaged with the Kaduna State emergency response team to address the situation.
The state epidemiologist reported six confirmed cases and five fatalities out of 12 suspected cases as of Feb. 25, with an additional 92 persons under surveillance as contact persons.
Salako outlined key interventions under the Environmental Health Pillar, including the dispatch of rodenticides for massive deratisation, activation of environmental health personnel for surveillance, and mandatory compliance of public facilities with deratisation exercises.
He emphasised that the Environmental Health Council and other authorities would issue deratisation certificates or exemptions to facilities post-deratisation.
Dr Yakubu Baba, the Registrar of EHCON, expressed concern about the annual recurrence of Lassa Fever and assured a change in approach, targeting reduction within Kaduna and preventing escalation to other states.
“Deratisation and awareness creation at the community level we are embarking on, are part of the preventive measures. We will issue certificates of deratisation to communities without evidence of rat infestation.
“We will focus on communities and states that are prone to the disease annually,” he stated. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Maharazu Ahmed
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