Lassa Fever is indeed a silent killer which has not been properly combatted by the Nigerian government yet several deaths are recorded yearly on this account. Sadly many people have lost their loved ones to this equally deathly disease. Even more pathetic is the fact that some medical personnel have fallen due to the high risk of exposure to patients who have been infected while delivering treatment.
Interestingly, Lassa Fever was named after the town ( Lassa, Borno State, Nigeria) where it is believed the disease was first recorded. As far back as 1969, two people died of the disease who happened to be missionary nurses working in that part of the country. Since then, Lassa Fever a viral disease has been very prevalent in the West African region.
How Is Lassa Fever Transmitted?
This hemorrhagic fever virus is transmitted from rodents to humans in cases where there is a contamination of meals or personal effects with the faeces or urine. Lassa fever is not a communicable disease, however, can be transmitted from human to human via exposure to bodily fluid of infected person like blood, sweat etc.
Lassa fever is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus that is animal-borne (zoonotic).
Possible Symptoms?
The viral illness takes about 2 - 21 days to fully manifest on infected persons, where the illness becomes more intense some of the following symptoms may be experienced.
- Hemorrhaging - bleeding on the skin, mouth etc.
- High body temperature
- Swelling of different parts of the body
- Vomiting and diarrhea
As deadly as the disease may be there is a cure for infected persons if early detection and treatment is administered with antiviral drugs like Ribavirin.
How Do We Rid Ourselves of This Menace?
I would have gone blah blah blah government should do this or that, however, we as individuals should be responsible for ourselves. Personal hygiene is very vital, food and other consumables should be properly stored, rodents should be killed on sight.
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