Lassa Fever: Be cautious of bush meat – GHS

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 shouldn’t 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”.