By SALIHU, Shola Taofeek
Let me firstly commend the readiness, zeal and several efforts of the state government in the fight against the pandemic ravaging and bringing down even the most powerful and advanced countries in the world. Likewise, I must not fail to appreciate our health workers at the frontline who risk everything to keep us safe. Kudos, you are our heros!
Recently, the Kwara governor’s spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye announced that the government would commence the disinfection and decontamination of some selected places across Ilorin on Saturday. Labeled as part of its effort in combating the novel coronavirus in the state, it is coming weeks after the first fumigation of public places in the state.
Photos from the areas hardest hit by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has told a story of disinfection. Trucks spraying streets and a phalanx of sanitation workers wearing backpack tanks fogging sidewalks, parks, and plazas in China, Iran, United States, Italy, and elsewhere. But in a state like Kwara with a minimal spread of the virus, is fumigation the most effective way to prevent exposure to the virus?
Like other coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19, is thought to spread most commonly through invisible respiratory droplets sent into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those droplets could be inhaled by nearby people or land on surfaces that others might touch and get infected when they touch their eyes, nose, or mouth within a period of time.
An ordinary Microbiologist who hasn’t traveled wide to garner enough experiences on virology would tell that spraying disinfectants over a large area and repeatedly may cause environmental pollution and cound have very limited effect in curbing the spread of the virus.
Though, I’m not saying disinfectant like Sensol Disinfectants S003, SanoClean AR, S006, S010 and S015 has no effect on coronavirus – being an enveloped virus. However spraying everywhere to sterilize sites and people from coronavirus can’t effectively protect humans from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Our medical experts who are advising the governor should also take note that coronavirus like other virus cannot survive days on inanimate surfaces, as several researches have shown. Without wasting resources to fumigate the streets and roads, the virus would die a natural death if it couldn’t get into a living host within a space of hours thereby professing the idea of fumigating as good as unnecessary spending.
While chemical fumigation has been used effectively in other areas, such as building decontamination after bioterrorism events, in agriculture, and in residential structures, there have been incidents where fumigants have escaped, causing illness and death to exposed workers and the public. Before expanding the use of a potentially hazardous technology in areas where there are vulnerable individuals, it is important to fully weigh benefits and risks.
Nevertheless, limited fumigation of hospital premises and environment open to the virus – like seen in high risk countries – is still reasonable to control infections.
COVID-19 may be transmitted from person to person, most commonly in close contacts (within about six feet range), via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Due to the tenacity of the virus, it is possible that a person can acquire COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface or object, and then touching either of mouth, nose, or eyes.
So, what’s the best path forward? Given that person-to-person contact appears the most likely route of transmission for COVID-19, I would advise the government to intensify focus on sensitization, especially in the area of facemask usage and washing of hands regularly.
Pathologists have recommended regular washing of hands with soap and running water to be the most effective way to protect self from the virus.
Aside from washing hands, people can also avoid COVID-19 transmission by not touching the face, immediately taking a bath after an outdoor activity; washing clothes with detergent and using an ironing spray with hydrochlorite disinfectant; use of alcohol based sanitizer incase water and detergent aren’t accessible; and practicing personal hygiene.
Stay home if you are sick, reduce close contact with others, make sure to cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough, and wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds. “As simple as it sounds, it works.” – this shold be spread to our streets, and not chemicals.
SALIHU, Shola Taofeek is a Microbiologist with certifications in Journalism. His area of specialization is focused on health and medical reports. He is a cartoonist and the CEO and Publisher of THE INFORMANT247.
Editor
Related posts
Subscribe for newsletter
* You will receive the latest news and updates on your favorite celebrities!
OPINION: Baraje: All hail the new Tafida of Ilorin!
By Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode It’s no longer a news that Friday 18th February, 2022 will be for the turbaning ceremony of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, CON, as the new Tafida of Ilorin Emirate following his appointment about a couple of months ago by His Royal…
144billion Cubic Meters of Gas Flared at Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities in 2021 – World Bank
By Ibrahim Sheriff Global progress to reduce gas flaring, the wasteful industry practice of burning natural gas during oil production, has stalled over the last decade. According to the World Bank, the 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report shows that 144 billion cubic meters of…
Health Education: KWSG Trains Information Managers on Infodemics
By Abdulrasheed Shafihi The role of health educationists, Information/Communication Officers and stakeholders in information management in Kwara state have been described as essential to effective health care service delivery and uptake of intervention strategies in the health sector. This Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of…
Kwara Assembly calls for stringent measures against indiscriminate dumping of refuse
By Dare Akogun The Kwara State House of Assembly has advocated for stringent measures against indiscriminate refuse disposal in Ilorin, the state Capital. This was part of resolutions of the House after considering Motion on Notice titled ” Need to Curb Use of Road Medians…
NCDC says infectious disease still threat to lives, livelihoods
By Dare Akogun The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), has reminded Nigerians that infectious diseases must still be considered a threat to their lives and livelihoods despite the ongoing low number of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa,…
Quick Cook!
Kwara Government announces end of total lockdown.
Kwara Government announces end of total lockdown. • Insists we’re not out of danger yet • Military to man borders as police lead internal ops • State records three new COVID-19 cases • Govt okays special allowances for health workers attending to COVID • Don’t…