Lassa fever: You must read this

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has revealed that over 40 (now 43) deaths have been recorded since the latest outbreak of the deadly viral disease, Lassa Fever in Nigeria.

Multi-breasted rats are the primary carriers of Lass virus. Photo: Filed

Adewole said:

"In the last six weeks Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak which so far has affected 10 states in the country... 

The states affected include Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo state. The total number so far reported is 86 and 40 deaths with the mortality rate of 45%. Our laboratories have confirmed 22 cases so far, indicative of a new round trip of Lassa Fever outbreak."

Lassa fever also known as Lassa Hemorrhagic fever (LHF) is an acute viral fever first described in Borno state Nigeria in 1969. Similar to Ebola, clinical cases had been known for over a decade but had not been connected with a viral pathogen (anything that causes a disease).

Predominantly infecting people in West Africa, Lassa Fever results in about 5000 deaths each year. The primary animal host is particular specie of rodents (especially mice) found in sub Saharan Africa. Giving its high rate of incidence, Lassa fever is a major problem in affected countries.

The disease can be contacted by:

• Ingestion of foods and drinks contaminated by the saliva.
• Urine and faeces of infected rats who access grain stores in residences.
• Catching and preparing infected rats as food.
• Inhaling tiny particles in the air contaminated with infected rat urine or droppings.
• Direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids, through mucous membranes, like eyes, nose, or mouth.

Signs and Symptoms

About 80% of the cases the disease is asymptomatic (carrier experiencing no symptom). It takes a complicated case for the remaining 20%.

After an incubation period of six to 21 days, an acute illness with multi-organ involvement develops. Non-Specific symptoms include fever, facial swelling and muscle fatigue as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. Other symptoms are gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, nausea, constipation, hepatitis, diarrhoea, cough, seizures etc.

Prevention

Control of rodent population is impractical so measures are limited to keeping rodents out of the home and food supplies as well as maintaining effective personal hygiene.

A statement by the state Ministry of Health said residents should observe good personal hygiene, including hand washing with soap and running water regularly, adding that wastes must be disposed properly in other to discourage rodents from entering the house.

Treatment

All persons suspected of Lassa Infection should be admitted to isolation facilities and their body fluids and excreta properly disposed off.

Key facts

• Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 1-4 weeks duration that occurs in West Africa.
• The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
• Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevent and control measures.
• Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin (where it was diagnosed for the first time in November 2014), Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and parts of Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
• The overall case-fatality rate is 1%. Observed case-fatality rate among patients hospitalised with severe cases of Lassa fever is 15%.
• Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.

The Ministry of Health also advises that the public report any cases of symptoms or persistent high fever not responding to standard treatment for malaria and typhoid fever to the nearest health centre as fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous.

The government also assured residents that Lassa fever can be treated. The earlier a person presents, the better the outcome of treatment.

The federal government offers to treat infected persons free of charge.

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