Benue Suspends Eating of Rats Over Lassa Fever

The Benue State Government has directed its citizens to stop the eating rats in the meantime in order to curtail the spread of Lassa Fever. The state governor, Samuel Ortom, disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after meeting, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ortom said the decision was taken because the state had recorded a case of the fever. Rat is a delicacy popular among the people of the state. The governor said, “Benue is affected; we have one case of Lassa Fever right now that is under control. “We have advised our people, rat, which is a major carrier, is a delicacy; I am finding it difficult, but I have told them to suspend eating rats now until further notice.” Ortom said he decided to make agriculture a priority program of his administration because he suspected early enough that a time would come when the nation would face revenue generation challenges.