This study examined food handling habits and lassa fever menace in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. The area of the study was Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, Edo state. The population for the study was made of all women in Edo State, Nigeria. Sample of two hundred and three women was drawn using simple random sampling techniques. The instrument consist of thirty items with four points rating scale responses options, which was developed from literature reviewed and used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by two experts from vocational and technical Education, Ambrose Ali, University, Ekpoma. Test- retest reliability was used. Pearson moment of correlation was used to obtain reliability coefficient of 0.82. All the copies of the questionnaires were retrieved. The data collected was analyzed using standard deviation and mean score. The findings revealed that the respondents are aware of lassa fever and the causes of lassa fever, but, the respondents did not understand the effect of lassa fever in the body system. The findings also revealed the poor method of food preservation and storage of the respondents which require improvement, to prevent lassa fever in the locality. Food handling of the respondents was also revealed which also need improvement. Recommendations were made among others include that an individuals should improve on food preservatives and food storage method, that is, good food preservatives and food storage that can prevent rodents from foods.
Keywords : Lassa fever, Rodents, Mastomys rats, Food preservatives, Food storage and Food handling.

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