- Azuzu: States are incapable of tackling virus
- Residents kill 2,000 rats in Kwara
By Paul Obi in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

As Nigeria battle to curb the spread of Lassa fever, the National Council on Health (NCH) and experts in disease control are expected to meet tomorrow in Abuja, and brainstorm on possible ways to curtail the virus.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health, signed by the Director of Press, Mrs. Boade Akinola, said the emergency meeting had become sacrosanct given the various gaps noticed in the attempts to track and prevent the spread of Lassa fever.
Akinola said: “The Hon. Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, has convened an Emergency National Council on health meeting to discuss the on-going Lassa fever outbreak in the country.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health, signed by the Director of Press, Mrs. Boade Akinola, said the emergency meeting had become sacrosanct given the various gaps noticed in the attempts to track and prevent the spread of Lassa fever.
Akinola said: “The Hon. Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, has convened an Emergency National Council on health meeting to discuss the on-going Lassa fever outbreak in the country.
“The meeting, which will also witness the inauguration of the National Lassa fever Action Committee, will take place at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 10a.m,” she noted.
She explained that “All states’ Commissioners for Health and CMDs/MDS of tertiary health facilities must be in attendance.”
But speaking to THISDAY, Head of the Federal Government Team on Lassa fever and a don of University of Ibadan, School of Medicine, Prof. Michael Azuzu, expressed his reservation about the current approach by state governments affected by the virus.
Azuzu sated that “states are not capable of tackling the outbreak of Lassa fever. Most states, apart from Lagos State, do not have infectious disease hospitals,” he declared.
She explained that “All states’ Commissioners for Health and CMDs/MDS of tertiary health facilities must be in attendance.”
But speaking to THISDAY, Head of the Federal Government Team on Lassa fever and a don of University of Ibadan, School of Medicine, Prof. Michael Azuzu, expressed his reservation about the current approach by state governments affected by the virus.
Azuzu sated that “states are not capable of tackling the outbreak of Lassa fever. Most states, apart from Lagos State, do not have infectious disease hospitals,” he declared.
He contended that states’ inability to address health emergencies such as the outbreak of Lassa fever remains “the biggest challenge” to effective health care system in the country.
On findings from the field, Azuzu informed THISDAY that the delay in reporting cases was a big mistake on the part of health officials in the affected states.
He urged all stakeholders in the health sector to support efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
Meanwhile no fewer than 2,000 rats were at the weekend to have been killed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital as part of efforts to curtail the spread of Lassa fever to the state.
On findings from the field, Azuzu informed THISDAY that the delay in reporting cases was a big mistake on the part of health officials in the affected states.
He urged all stakeholders in the health sector to support efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
Meanwhile no fewer than 2,000 rats were at the weekend to have been killed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital as part of efforts to curtail the spread of Lassa fever to the state.
The deadly disease is said to be caused by rats and have killed over 50 people in some parts of the country especially in Oyo, Kano, Nasarawa, Rivers, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Abuja, among others.
Also at the weekend, the price of rat-killers had gone up in the state following the high demand among residents in the state.
It was gathered that rat-killer chemical that used to sell for N100, had its price increased to N500 due to the outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.
THISDAY checks revealed that the residents also decided to embark on hunting for the rats as a way of preventing the disease in the state.
Also at the weekend, the price of rat-killers had gone up in the state following the high demand among residents in the state.
It was gathered that rat-killer chemical that used to sell for N100, had its price increased to N500 due to the outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.
THISDAY checks revealed that the residents also decided to embark on hunting for the rats as a way of preventing the disease in the state.
During a visit by THISDAY to some areas in Ilorin such as Omoda, Okelele, Adangba, Kuntu, Adabata, among others, residents were seen moving round looking for rats to kill.
Reports from other parts of the state such as Offa, Omu-Aran, Erin-Ile, Oro, Oke-Onigbin, among others, also revealed that residents were seen moving from place to place looking for rats to kill to prevent the spread of Lassa fever to the state.
Some of the residents who spoke with THISDAY said: “We have so far killed over 2,000 rats in various compounds in Ilorin, the state capital.”
Reports from other parts of the state such as Offa, Omu-Aran, Erin-Ile, Oro, Oke-Onigbin, among others, also revealed that residents were seen moving from place to place looking for rats to kill to prevent the spread of Lassa fever to the state.
Some of the residents who spoke with THISDAY said: “We have so far killed over 2,000 rats in various compounds in Ilorin, the state capital.”
They said: “We have to move fast because we don’t need to wait until this deadly disease called Lassa fever spreads to Ilorin because we understand that the deadly disease is caused by the rats.
“We want the government to help us buy more rat poisons for the residents of the state so as to enable us kill more rats before they catch us unaware.
“We also call on our people to keep their environment clean as this will not give room for the rats to breed.”
“We want the government to help us buy more rat poisons for the residents of the state so as to enable us kill more rats before they catch us unaware.
“We also call on our people to keep their environment clean as this will not give room for the rats to breed.”
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