Breaking: Media Blackout As Lassa Fever Ravages Nigeria

By Uche Mbah

While Nigerians are worried about the much hyped Coronavirus that has its epicenter in China, a more localized disease-Lassa Fever- has been ravaging the country.

Coronavirus, as at the last count, has killed 41 people in China. Chinese government has locked down the epicenter, Wuhan, and two other cities. It has spread to other parts of the world.

By official statistics, Lassa fever has infected about 200 people and killed 24 people across states in Nigeria, including two Medical Doctors and a pregnant woman. Residents of Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, Kano, Delta, Taraba, Plateu and Bauchi states are reeling under the scourge, while other cities are not even on high alert. This seems to be an indictment on federal health officials, whose sensitization ought to have reached an intense peak.

There has been a curious media blackout on the issue.

While Coronavirus is of the species of SARS-both are respiratory disorders-Lassa fever is in the family of Ebola, a disease that is currently ravaging the Democratic Republic Of Congo but was repelled from Nigeria by the sacrifice of a medical heroine, Amejo Adedevoh.

While there are still speculations on the Coronavirus vendor-some say it is snake, others say it is from eating bats by the local Chinese population-Lassa fever is carried by rats, and can be prevented by increased hygienic conditions. According to experts, most people who contact it do so from drinking Garri. This is because rats can come into contact with Garri that is badly stored . Therefore eating only cooked and boiled food as well as adquately stored and covered foods can reduce the infection rate.

Symptoms include stooling, fever, body aches, cough, vomiting etc. Most Nigerians , who are used to self medication will mistake the symptoms for that of malaria.

Part of the preventive measures are food coverings, avoiding rats dead or alive. Even a dead rat can infect people with fluids oozing from it.