Lassa Fever Alert: Eat ‘Eba,’ Stop Drinking Garri, Expert Warns

Against the backdrop of the spread of Lassa fever, which has claimed 63 people across the country in the last six months, Nigerians have been advised to top drinking garri.Instead, they are advised to take the garri stirred in hot water – known as ‘eba’ in South-West Nigeria.
Garri, a cassava product, is a staple ‘snack’ in Nigerian homes.

Speaking on the update of the disease in Rivers State, Furo Green, chairman of the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said consumption of garri could expose one to the disease.
He explained that rats, which carry the highly contagious virus, are mostly in contact with garri.
“It is advisable to stay away from garri because you are not sure which garri has been infected by rats.
“When you want to sip garri, you only pour cold water, add sugar and milk as the case may be.
“When you do that, you only succeed in gulping a life virus that can cause Lassa fever. The virus is empowered easily to attack you.
“Rather, garri should be consumed in the traditional way: prepare it in well boiled hot water or pour thegarri in a pot of boiling hot water and steer it.
“When you buy foodstuff like garri, pour it into a container that is covered to avoid the garri being contaminated by infected rats,” he said.
Within a space of 11 weeks, the disease spread to over 17 of the country’s 36 states, including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The viral infection, which started in remote villages in Bauchi, Niger and Kano States, has reportedly killed about 63 people so far. There are also reports of 212 suspected cases in 62 local government areas.
Minister of Health, Prof Issac Adewole, listed the affected states as Zamfara, Kogi, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Delta, Gombe, Plateau, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba, Kano, Bauchi, and Niger.