Refuse Overruns Asaba As Lassa Fever Fear Grips Delta

From Ochei Matthew, Asaba
The Delta State capital, has been taken over by heaps of refuse and un-cleared drainage, a situation which is fast deteriorating with possible epidemic turn of event.
Investigation conducted showed that many repulsive odour emanates from the heaps of refuse dotting parts of the city with different species of rats and bats feeding from the refuse.
Beside the popular Nnebisi road, passers-by have to cover their nostrils as the mess resulting from un-cleared refuse becomes more offensive day by day.
Other areas like Cable Point axis, housing estate by express way and other streets are now eyesores as un-cleared gutters constitute a major health hazard, especially at the back of General Hospital, Okwe.
Some residents who bared their minds to The Dream Daily expressed disappointment over the development and urged the government to step in to arrest the situation.
Meanwhile, the state government has said that no case of Lassa fever has been reported in Delta.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Nicholas Azinge stated this at a media briefing on the Delta state response to Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria at Government House, Asaba.
While Azinge admitted the existence of heaps of refuse across Asaba, he noted that the ministry of health would collaborate with the environment ministry and waste management agency to look for ways to curtail the indiscriminate dumping of refuse to avoid Lassa fever and other health hazards.
The commissioner said Lassa fever has become a national issues, noting that 10 states were already affected.
He disclosed that Delta state has been place red alert on six local governments which share common borders with Edo and Rivers affected by Lassa fever.
“No case of Lassa fever has been reported in Delta, and we are maintaining contact with the six local government that have common borders with affected states like Rivers and Edo,” he said
He said the Lassa fever was contacted from a specie of rat, especially the black rat that have some white spots.