Just as we sound the victory drums to commemorate an Ebola free nation, Eureka!! A new villain has arrived uninvited to yet sore our bleeding hearts with more cuts of woe.
Lassa hemorrhagic fever (LHF) is an acute and fatal viral disease, majorly acquired from infected rats. Its earliest roots is traced down to the 1970s, in a village named Lassa in the North western Nigeria (Africa), hence the name Lassa fever.
10 FACTS ABOUT LASSA FEVER
Cases of Lassa fever is prevalent in West Africa, and clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade, it results in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually and causes about 5,000 death each year.
Cases of Lassa fever is prevalent in West Africa, and clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade, it results in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually and causes about 5,000 death each year.
Out breaks of the disease have been observed in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central African Republic and Nigeria.
Lassa fever is transmitted by a breed of rat called Multimamate mice (Mastomys Natalensis) which unfortunately is the most common rat in West Africa, ubiquitous in human households and eaten as delicacies in some areas. Infection in humans typically occurs by exposure to animal. Or eating and coming in contact with infected substances.
In 80% cases, Lassa fever is asymptomatic, in which it conceals its symptoms, and as such has no specific symptoms, but in the remaining 20% it takes a complicated form. After an incubation period of 6 to 21 days, there will be facial swelling, muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. Other acute symptoms arise from affected organs.
In 2012, Nigeria recorded an outbreak of Lassa fever with an estimate of 100 cases, and a mortality rate of about 40 people. Currently, there is a resurgence of the deadly disease presently in Nigeria.
The federal government of Nigeria through her minister for health prof. Isaac Adewole on the 22nd January 2016, that Lasa fever has claimed 63 lives out of the 212 suspected cases reported from 62 local government areas in affected states.
Currently, there are 17 affected states, Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Kogi as well as the federal capital territory(FCT) and the most affected areas Niger, Nasrawa ,Taraba , Bauchi, and Oyo.
Control of rodent population in this geographical area is impractical, so measures are limited to keeping rodents out of homes and food supply, the best chance of kicking the virus away is by maintaining a high level of personal hygiene, and employ any means necessary. For an example the Rivers State Government has advised its citizens to stop drinking garri with cold water since rodents are attracted to dry garri.
All persons suspected of Lassa fever infection should report to the adequate authorities and be admitted to isolation facilities, and their body fluids and excreta properly disposed of.
The treatment of Lassa fever is known to be a drug called Ribarvin pioneered by Joe McC ormick in 1979. The drug is considered to be too expensive for most people in West Africa.
To be fore warned is to be fore armed. Let's unite and fight against this endemic villain and ensure our very existence on mother earth. Article credit : Ivhee CaRter
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