Medical experts have urged school administrators to step up hygienic practices in their schools, especially as children are more prone to playing with rodents.
They made the appeal on the heels of the outbreak of Lassa fever, which has killed no fewer than 44 persons in the country.
The disease, a haemorrhagic fever, which has similar symptoms to the Ebola Virus Disease, hit the country barely one week after school resumption this January.
According to a virologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sunday Omilabu, children are more prone to playing with rodents and touching their droppings.
Omilabu, who diagnosed the first case of EVD in the country, urged school administrators to ensure that they deployed soap and water in strategic places around their schools and to educate pupils properly about the fever.
“Children are more prone to Lassa fever infection because they are the ones fond of playing with rodents said to be the major carriers of transmission. Schools need to emphasise on good hygiene practices and should not allow classrooms to harbour rodents.
“However, there are other infections transmitted by rodents and it is important that pupils are not allowed to touch or dispose any dead rodent in the school environment. The dead rodent should also not be touched with bare hands by adults because they can accidentally touch their eyes and the infection will be transmitted into the membranes of the eyes,” he said.
Another physician, Dr. Ayo Falade, also advised school owners to refer any pupil with fever to the appropriate medical facility immediately.
Falade said, “Basic rules of sanitation should be maintained at all times. Lunch should be well covered and the classrooms need to be free of rats.
Hygienic practices such as washing of hands should be observed. Teachers should lead by example by washing their hands publicly and frequently. It is important to educate the pupils too on the symptoms of the fever.”
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