Lassa fever: Lagos begins mass deratisation of public places

The Lagos State Government says it would on March 13, 2020 begin an eight-week massive deratization and fumigation of no fewer than 27 model colleges with hostel facilities, abattoirs and slaughter houses, agricultural produce markets as well as regular markets in the State.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, disclosed this on Wednesday day in Lagos.
Lawal noted that the deratization and fumigation exercise is aimed at preventing the outbreak and spread of the Lassa Fever in Lagos State.
He listed the Model Colleges to be deratized to include Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Meiran; Lagos Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Igbookuta; Civil Service Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Igbogbo; Oriwu Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Ikorodu; Girls’ Junior Model College, Agunfoye, Igbogbo; Government Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Owutu, Ikorodu; Eva-Adelaja Memorial Senior and Junior Secondary Schools, Bariga; Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Badore; Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Igbonla; Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Agbowa-Ikosi; Government Senior and Junior Colleges, Ketu-Epe; Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Kankon, Badagry; Lagos State Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Ojo; and Badagry Senior and Junior Grammar Schools, Badagry.
The Commissioner added that the agricultural produce and regular markets to be deratized are the Agboju Market; Afolabi-Ege Market, Iyana-Iba; Agbalata Market, Badagry; Ikoga Market, Badagry; Alayabiagba Market, Ajegunle; Mile 12 Market; Ketu Market; Sabo Market, Ikorodu; Ejina Market, Ikorodu; Flower Market, Odogunyan; Ito-Okin Market; Ayetoro Market, Epe; Ebute Chief Market, Epe; Mojoda Market, Epe; Pobo Market, Poka, Epe; Sura Market, Lagos Island; Oke-Arin Market, Lagos Island; Ajah Market; Sangotedo Market; Eleko Market; Oyingbo Market; Idera Market, Agege; Ile-Epo Market; Ogo-Oluwa Market, Arena, Oshodi; Onitire Market, Itire; Ogba Sunday Market; Alade Market, Ikeja; and Ojuwoye Market, Mushin.
According to the Commissioner, all the abattoirs and slaughter houses in the State would also be deratized, stressing that the State Government was taking proactive measures in order to improve the overall general sanitation and hygiene situations of these public places in the State.
Lawal urged residents to ensure that rats were totally exterminated from their homes, while also taking effective measures to discourage rats from entering homes, adding that the importance of promoting good community hygiene cannot be overemphasised.
The Commissioner advised members of the public to always store grains and other foodstuff in rat-proof containers, garbage should be disposed far from homes, clean households culture should be maintained, while understanding and practicing basic hand- washing hygiene.
The deratization and fumigation exercise would end on May 7, 2020.