There is outbreak of Lassa Fever (LF) in some states in Nigeria
According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report 3rd Febraury, 2019; there were 275 confirmed cases and 57 deaths recorded that spread across 37 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 19 states out of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. States include; Edo, Ebonyi, Ondo, Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Enugu, Delta, Borno, Nasarawa, Oyo, and FCT Abuja.
Lassa Fever (LF) is an acute and sometimes severe viral haemorrhagic animal-borne illness endemic in West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. Humans contract Lassa virus primarily by eating food or drinking water contaminated with excreta (urine, faeces, saliva or blood) of the rodent Mastomys natalensis (Natal Multimammate rat), which is the natural reservoir or zoonotic animal for the virus. Secondary transmission between humans occurs through direct contact with infected person blood or bodily secretion/fluids.
BRIEF HISTORY OF LASSA FEVER
Description of the disease dated from the 1950s. The virus was first described in 1969 from a case in the town of Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria.
The first documented case of Lassa Fever and from whom the first Lassa virus was isolated in 1969 is Ms Lily (Penny) Pinneo, she was infected alongside Dr. Jeanette Troup while working as a Nurse, Anesthetist and Midwife at Jos Mission Hospital in Jos Nigeria. Watch her documented video here>> www.vimeo.com/calmdog/pennystory.
The second documented case of Lassa Fever and to whom the virus was isolated is Mr Harry Elyea, he's also a missionary Nurse in Nigeria from 1945 to 1968 and never returned to West Africa after living Nigeria.
The third isolated person with Lassa Fever case was Dr. Hal White, a physician who worked at Jos mission Hospital in Nigeria from 1968 to 1975.
SYMPTOMS
Lassa Fever usually starts with fever, general body weakness, headache, cough, diarrhoea, sore throat, rashes, chest and muscles pain, nausea, vomiting, fascial swelling. And in severe cases, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastro-intestinal track.
Lassa Fever can be treated if detected early. Visit the nearest health centre near you for treatment. If you think you have been infected with Lassa Fever, avoid contact with other people, seek health advice immediately in the nearest health facility, drink plenty of fluids/water.
PREVENTION
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| Natal Multimammate (Mastomys natalensis) |
Description of the disease dated from the 1950s. The virus was first described in 1969 from a case in the town of Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria.
The first documented case of Lassa Fever and from whom the first Lassa virus was isolated in 1969 is Ms Lily (Penny) Pinneo, she was infected alongside Dr. Jeanette Troup while working as a Nurse, Anesthetist and Midwife at Jos Mission Hospital in Jos Nigeria. Watch her documented video here>> www.vimeo.com/calmdog/pennystory.
The second documented case of Lassa Fever and to whom the virus was isolated is Mr Harry Elyea, he's also a missionary Nurse in Nigeria from 1945 to 1968 and never returned to West Africa after living Nigeria.
The third isolated person with Lassa Fever case was Dr. Hal White, a physician who worked at Jos mission Hospital in Nigeria from 1968 to 1975.
SYMPTOMS
Lassa Fever usually starts with fever, general body weakness, headache, cough, diarrhoea, sore throat, rashes, chest and muscles pain, nausea, vomiting, fascial swelling. And in severe cases, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastro-intestinal track.
Lassa Fever can be treated if detected early. Visit the nearest health centre near you for treatment. If you think you have been infected with Lassa Fever, avoid contact with other people, seek health advice immediately in the nearest health facility, drink plenty of fluids/water.
PREVENTION
- Storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers.
- Disposing of garbages far from home
- Maintaining clean home and keeping rat predator pets e.g cats etc and by using rodenticide.
- Healthcare providers and family members should always becareful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.
- wash hand regularly with soap under running water.
- cook food properly and cover food from rodents.
- Keep house and environment clean.
- Block holes and keep rodents away.
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