By Ayomide Otitoju
The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) has warned food processors, garri production centres and street food vendors across the state to comply with strict hygiene and waste management standards or face sanctions, as part of measures to curb the spread of Lassa fever.
In a statement issued by its Press Secretary, Aliyu Jamiu Amode, the agency expressed concern over environmental practices that could increase the risk of transmission of the viral disease.
The General Manager of KWEPA, Jide Aina, said Lassa fever is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents or through the consumption of food contaminated by rodents’ urine or droppings.
He emphasised that food handlers play a critical role in safeguarding public health, particularly in preventing contamination during food processing, storage and sales.
Aina directed garri processing factories and other food production facilities to store raw materials and finished products in rodent-proof containers at all times. He also stressed the importance of regular cleaning of processing equipment and facilities, alongside proper waste disposal to prevent rodent infestation.
The agency cautioned street food vendors against unsafe practices such as displaying food on bare ground, roadsides or other exposed surfaces. Vendors were urged to keep food covered, maintain personal hygiene, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and dispose of refuse responsibly rather than dumping waste in drainage channels or public spaces.
According to Aina, 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.
He disclosed that the agency would intensify routine inspections and enforcement activities across the state, warning that defaulters would face sanctions in line 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 said.
Aina called on food business operators and residents to demonstrate collective responsibility in maintaining environmental cleanliness, noting that preventing Lassa fever requires proactive action from all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has debunked social media claims that corps members at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in the state died from Lassa fever.
In a statement signed by the Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, the government said the state’s Rapid Response Team, led by the State Epidemiologist, investigated the rumours following reports that surfaced on February 8 and found no evidence of transmission or infection among corps members or camp officials.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, clarified that the corps member referenced in the online posts 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.
