The head of disease and Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service Dr. Franklin Bekoe has given the assurance

that appropriate measures are being taken to avoid the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the country.

 

Ghana has so far recorded one death of the dangerous disease at the Tema General Hospital. The fever has

claimed over 40 lives in neighboring Nigeria.

 

The acute viral haemorrhagic illness is transmitted through rodent excreta. Lassa Fever is endemic in West

Africa because of its rodent population.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Friday Friday, Dr. Bekoe urged Ghanaians to be cautious when

consuming bush meat since it is a causative factor.

 

“We are doing the necessary screening at our borders. We sent an alert about two or three weeks ago to let the

general public know that we were at risk. We are not stereotyping bush meat but we need to be careful. The virus

is in rats. Rats can come into an environment and get into contact with food or any item used by man and that

can spread the virus,” he said.

 

He however dispelled the notion that the disease has no cure.

“We should not always assume that every symptom is one of malaria. we should visit the hospital when we

are not well for proper checks. There is treatment for Lassa. The patient who lost his life was put on treatment

but unfortunately, he lost his life”.

 

 Starrfmonline.com