INTRODUCTION
Lassa fever was first described in the 1950s but was identified in 1969. As the name imply the disease was first discovered in a community called Lassa, in Bornu State, Nigeria. It is a haemorrhagic (bleeding) fever that is similar to Ebola, but caused by the lassa virus being transmitted by multi-mammate rats called Mastomys natalensis. The rats are called “multi-mammate” because they have more breasts than other house rats. The virus is widespread in West Africa: particularly in Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Lassa fever is deadly if not cured at its early stage. It is associated with dirty and over-populated environments.
EARLY SYMPTOMS
- High fever
- General body weakness
- Sore throats
- Cough
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Proteinurea
- Back pains
- Tremor
LATE SYMPTOMS
- Bleeding from the nose, mouth, lungs, vagina, skin, intestine etc.
- Rashes
- Swellings of the eyes, face and genitalia
- Red/pink eyes
- Hearing lose (in about 25% cases)
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain cells)
- Low blood pressure
TRANSMISSION/PROGNOSIS
- Contact with the urine, faeces, and blood of an infected multimammate rats (rodents)
- Human to human transmission: contact with an infected person
- Contact with an infected hospital equipment
- Non professional burial rights of a lassa fever body
INCUBATION PERIOD
6 – 21 Days
PREVENTION
- Kill all rats within or around the house and block their access points into the house
- Improve on personal and domestic hygiene in and around the house
- Store food items in sealed containers not accessible to rodents
- Dispose all garbage (dust bin) in time and far away from home
- Avoid unprotected contacts with bodily fluids of sick patients of unknown cause
- Rigorous contact tracings are necessary in endemic areas.
- Safe injection and burial practice
- Basic hand hygiene, hand wash, or using hand sanitizers
- Use of personal protective equipment’s in a vulnerable area
TREATMENT
- Early supportive care with rehydration
- Symptomatic treatment
- Ribavirin 200mg
AFFECTED STATES
- Bauchi
- Gombe
- Delta
- Plateau
- Rivers
LASSA FEVER CALL CENTERS
08031571667
08093810105
08031571667
08163215251
Contact us here
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