The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) has issued a stern warning to food processors, garri production centres and street food vendors across the state to adhere strictly to hygiene and waste management standards or face sanctions, as part of measures to curb the spread of Lassa fever.
In a statement signed by its Press Secretary, Aliyu Jamiu Amode, the agency expressed concern over unsanitary environmental practices that could increase the risk of transmission of the viral disease.
The General Manager of KWEPA, Jide Aina, explained that Lassa fever is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents or by consuming food contaminated with rodents’ urine or droppings.
“Food handlers occupy a critical position in safeguarding public health, particularly in preventing contamination during food processing, storage, and sales,” the statement read.
Aina directed operators of garri processing factories and other food production facilities to ensure that both raw materials and finished products are stored in rodent-proof containers at all times. He also emphasised the need for routine cleaning of processing equipment and premises, alongside proper waste disposal to deter rodent infestation.
The agency further cautioned street food vendors against unsafe practices such as spreading or displaying food on bare ground, roadsides or other exposed surfaces.
Vendors were urged to keep food covered, maintain high standards of personal hygiene, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and dispose of refuse responsibly rather than dumping waste in drains or public spaces.
“Key preventive measures include maintaining clean surroundings around business premises, using safe water for food preparation, and ensuring proper handling and disposal of food packaging materials,” Aina said.
He announced that KWEPA would intensify routine inspections and enforcement operations statewide, warning that violators would be sanctioned in accordance with environmental health regulations.
“Ensuring proper hygiene and waste management is not optional; it is essential to protecting lives. Together, we can drastically reduce the risk of Lassa fever and promote a healthier Kwara State,” he added.
Aina also called on residents and food business operators to embrace collective responsibility in maintaining environmental sanitation, stressing that effective prevention of Lassa fever requires proactive engagement from all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has debunked social media reports alleging that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the state’s orientation camp died from Lassa fever.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Saad Hamdalat, the government said there had been no recorded outbreak or confirmed cases of Lassa fever at the camp.
“The state’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), led by the State Epidemiologist, investigated the claims after rumours surfaced on February 8 and found no evidence of transmission or infection among corps members or camp officials,” the statement read.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, further clarified that the corps member referenced in the online reports had a pre-existing chronic condition and died at a health facility outside the camp, with no laboratory confirmation linking the death to Lassa fever.
