Nigerians Warned Against Drinking Garri

The Director of Public Health, Enugu State, Dr Boniface Okolo, has cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of cassava flakes, otherwise known as garri to avoid contacting Lassa fever.

Okolo, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen today in Enugu, said the rats that caused the disease were mostly in contact with Nigerian most popular staple food ‘garri,’ a cassava product.

He added that it was necessary to discourage consumption of soaked garri since it did not require boiled water.

Okolo noted that boiled water could go a long way to kill bacteria caused by pest or rodents in garri.

“It is better that the cassava flakes called garri is used for ‘eba’, because of the use of hot water.

“We in the state health ministry are waging total war against rodents through sensitisation, that is what we are doing to ensure we do not have victim of Lassa fever in the state.