The Director of Public Health, Enugu State, Dr. Boniface Okolo, has cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of cassava flakes, otherwise known as garri to avoid contacting Lassa fever.Dr. Okolo, who gave the warning in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu today, January 18, said that the rats that cause the disease are mostly in contact with Nigerian most popular staple food ‘garri,’ product from cassava, saying that it becomes mode dangerous as soaked garri does not require boiled water.
The health expert said that boiled water can kill bacteria caused by pest or rodents in garri, adding: “it is better that the cassava flakes called garri is used for ‘eba’, because of the use of hot water.
“We in the state health ministry are waging total war against rodents through sensitisation, that is what we are doing to ensure we do not have victim of Lassa fever in the state.
“We are also sensitising the public to ensure that their fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed if they must be consumed them raw and cook to the appropriate temperature.
“The best practices for food storage should be encouraged to prevent epidemic.
”We should always make sure that we use air-tight clean plastic containers to preserve our foodstuff to avoid lassa fever and other diseases.”
The health expert said that boiled water can kill bacteria caused by pest or rodents in garri, adding: “it is better that the cassava flakes called garri is used for ‘eba’, because of the use of hot water.
“We in the state health ministry are waging total war against rodents through sensitisation, that is what we are doing to ensure we do not have victim of Lassa fever in the state.
“We are also sensitising the public to ensure that their fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed if they must be consumed them raw and cook to the appropriate temperature.
“The best practices for food storage should be encouraged to prevent epidemic.
”We should always make sure that we use air-tight clean plastic containers to preserve our foodstuff to avoid lassa fever and other diseases.”
