Senate Summons Health Minister Over Lassa Fever

The Senate has extended invitation to the minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole, to brief it over the current outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states in the country.

File photo of minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole

Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso from Ogun Central moved the motion for the invitation of the minister.

The Senate called on the federal government, health agencies and non-governmental organizations to carry out holistic and aggressive sensitization in affected states, market places, schools, restaurants, and other public places in order prevent the spread of the disease, The Nation reports.

The upper chamber condoled with families that had their loved ones to the disease and urged Nigerians to adhere to rules on personal hygiene as well as report cases of persistent high fever to the nearest health facility.

Senator described the situation that since the outbreak of the virus in 2014, which has so far claimed about 35 lives, nothing had been done to checkmate further outbreak of the disease.

In a related development, the Benue state government had directed people in the state to desist from eating rats for the meantime.

This directive was given by Governor Samuel Ortom at Aso Villa shortly after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The governor explained that the step becomes necessary as the state had recorded a case of the virus