Akwa Ibom state is no longer Lass fever free, as a first case of death from Lassa has been recorded, just after three suspected cases of Lassa fever surfaced in the state.
According to information from the state commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, one of the suspected cases had absconded, while one other patient is is already receiving treatment for HIV.
“The situation is that Akwa Ibom is no longer free,” Ukpong said, “and since rat meat is not so much a delicacy in the state, I appeal to those that eat rat to please stop it. We advise that you keep cats if you can, because cats drive away rats.”
It would be recalled that Lagos state has already started a de-rat program, which is organized by the Lagos state chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria.
According to chapter president, the markets being cleaned are the Onigbongbo, Oshodi, Oke-Odo, Ikotun Idanwo, Ojuwoye, Mile 12 and Alaba-Rago markets.