Recently, people have been stricken with the fear of being infected with Lassa fever virus through garri which is believed to aid easy spread of the virus.
Meanwhile a virologist and co-founder of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) Dr Alash'le G. Abimiku has said sustained heat can help kill the Lassa fever virus.
He said if people are afraid to drink soaked gari because of Lassa fever, then they have to worry about every other food.
The common rats that transmits Lassa fever virus lives around houses and has the habit of contaminating food left open with its urine and faeces.
So in the case of garri, it is advisable to take eba instead of soaked garri because of its boiling process as sustained heat can help killed the virus. And for hot water to kill it, it must be heated for a period of 30minutes at 56 0C.
Also, one can be infected through touching contaminated material and then infecting oneself by putting contaminated hand into mouth or any abrasion area on our skin.
"General hygiene is critical for controlling viral infection. It is unwise to single out one act and one food item and think that you are safe from being infected by Lassa virus,” he warns
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