Lassa Fever: Avoid Drinking Garri - Medical Experts Warn

Medical Experts Warn Nigerians to avoid drinking garri to prevent Lassa fever

Nigerians have been warned by medical doctors to stay away from the consumption of soaked garri (cassava flask), at least for now so as to prevent Lassa fever.

The warning is coming from the Medical and Health Workers Union, Lagos State Council, who on Saturday, January 17, said that it would embark on public enlightenment to discourage consumption of soaked garri for now to prevent Lassa fever.

Razak Adeofalade speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, he stated that house rats that caused Lassa fever are mostly in contact with Nigerian most popular food, Garri, a cassava product.

Mr Adeofalade said:

“We are going to encourage members of the public to depart from the process of drinking garri at this moment, it is better that the cassava flour is utilised for `eba,’ because of the use of hot water.

“The whole essence is to enlighten our people because education carries a lot of weight in this whole activity.

“We call for adaptation of best practices for food storage to prevent epidemic.”

According to what he said, the union is determined to wage war against rat in the state and public enlightenment on fighting epidemic.

He also said that his members cut across all government’s hospitals and local governments and would be mobilised to start enlightenment on the evil of rodents.

“We will go into premises, market place and teach them on the best practice of storing of food items from contacts with rodents,’’ he said.

I hope you will avoid garri (cassava flask) for now.

About Unknown

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.