Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever (LHF ), is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus .
It is a viral disease that is contractible from a Mastomys rats.
Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever. Although,there is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread among humans.Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms.When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting , and muscle pains.
Lassa fever occurs in all age groups and both sexes.
This virus which was first reported many years ago has been on the rise since then,but the federal government and the international bodies effort to curtail it has not shown much success.
This virus which was discovered in the northern part of the country around 1980s has now spread to almost all part of the country, especially to the southern region.
Its control now seems like a mountain to climb,mainly because of the problem of 'contact tracing', careless handling of food by the people and late report by the victims.
For example,a case in early March,a Disease Surveillance Officer in Edo State area rushes to a household where a man has just died of Lassa fever.
The young father left behind two sons who show symptoms of the infectious disease. The office wants to get the children to a hospital as quickly as possible. One boy is so weak he can barely stand.
She must also identify all the people who recently came into physical contact with the deceased father so they can be monitored for signs of the viral haemorrhagic fever.
Both jobs are difficult in a community reeling from a recent death and fear for their own lives.
“The first time you visit and tell them you are a disease surveillance officer, they are always scared,” says Nafissa Ikerodah,the Disease surveillance officer.
Faith Ireye, the World Health Organization’s Edo State Coordinator, accompanies Nafissa. They arrange for an ambulance to pick up the boys and ask the family to provide the names of the deceased patients’ contacts within the community.
“Contact tracing is the bedrock of infectious disease outbreak control. If contact tracing is not done, people who come into contact with Lassa fever patients stay in their homes, become symptomatic, infect more people, and make the outbreak bigger and bigger,” says Faith.
Nafissa visits every identified contact of the deceased father. She records names, telephone numbers, and the date of their last encounter with the patient. She gives each a thermometer for personal temperature checks and arranges to call on the contacts daily for the next 21 days to note their temperature. If anyone is suspected of having Lassa fever, they will be taken to hospital for a confirmatory test and, if positive, provided with care in a special isolation unit.
By 18 March, 3675 contacts of the 376 confirmed Lassa fever cases in Nigeria had been identified and more than three-quarters had completed their 21 days of monitoring.
In Edo state – where the outbreak has been spreading particularly fast – WHO, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the local government are reaching out to communities with a large-scale awareness raising campaign.
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling infected rats, food or household items contaminated by the rats’ urine and faeces. The virus can spread between people through direct contact with the body fluids of a person infected with Lassa fever, as well as contaminated bedding and clothing.
Community members are being advised of a range of preventive measures including washing hands regularly, storing food in containers with lids, keeping their homes clean and tidy to discourage rats from entering and cooking foods thoroughly.
Garri, which is made from cassava tubers, is a staple food in this part of Nigeria. Traditionally, families have left the crushed cassava outside in the sun to dry out. During the sensitization sessions, participants are encouraged to dry garri through frying over a hot stove, rather than in the sun.
After one of awareness raising sessions, one primary school teacher says she has learnt important hygiene lessons that she will share.
The teacher promised to create awareness among the pupils so they will take these messages back to their homes.
But changing behaviours is no easy task.
In one house, Faith and her team find a basket full of rats being kept as pets by a boy. Nearby, garri is being dried in the sun. Faith quickly advises the household to cover the food.
WHO is working with communities to deliver messages that will encourage preventive actions and ultimately save lives.
Over the years there have been an increase in the number of cases of Lassa fever in the country, Which is somehow disheartening due to the effort of the international bodies like WHO.
The symptoms of this illness includes; headache, fever, bleeding, facial swelling,conjunctivitis , cough, chest pain among others.
Its spread can be Controlled by the reduction of the Mastomys rodent population in other to keep rodents out of homes and food supplies, encouraging effective personal hygiene, storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, and disposing of garbage far from the home to help sustain clean households.
The government needs to be serious,intensify its effort and create awareness among its citizen to curb this Disease.
This can only be achieved through sensitisation programs and provision of financial resources to health sector.
The citizens also have a role to play through proper handling of food items,reducing contact with rats and maintenance of clean environment.
It is a viral disease that is contractible from a Mastomys rats.
Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever. Although,there is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread among humans.Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms.When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting , and muscle pains.
This virus which was first reported many years ago has been on the rise since then,but the federal government and the international bodies effort to curtail it has not shown much success.
This virus which was discovered in the northern part of the country around 1980s has now spread to almost all part of the country, especially to the southern region.
Its control now seems like a mountain to climb,mainly because of the problem of 'contact tracing', careless handling of food by the people and late report by the victims.
For example,a case in early March,a Disease Surveillance Officer in Edo State area rushes to a household where a man has just died of Lassa fever.
The young father left behind two sons who show symptoms of the infectious disease. The office wants to get the children to a hospital as quickly as possible. One boy is so weak he can barely stand.
She must also identify all the people who recently came into physical contact with the deceased father so they can be monitored for signs of the viral haemorrhagic fever.
Both jobs are difficult in a community reeling from a recent death and fear for their own lives.
“The first time you visit and tell them you are a disease surveillance officer, they are always scared,” says Nafissa Ikerodah,the Disease surveillance officer.
Faith Ireye, the World Health Organization’s Edo State Coordinator, accompanies Nafissa. They arrange for an ambulance to pick up the boys and ask the family to provide the names of the deceased patients’ contacts within the community.
“Contact tracing is the bedrock of infectious disease outbreak control. If contact tracing is not done, people who come into contact with Lassa fever patients stay in their homes, become symptomatic, infect more people, and make the outbreak bigger and bigger,” says Faith.
Nafissa visits every identified contact of the deceased father. She records names, telephone numbers, and the date of their last encounter with the patient. She gives each a thermometer for personal temperature checks and arranges to call on the contacts daily for the next 21 days to note their temperature. If anyone is suspected of having Lassa fever, they will be taken to hospital for a confirmatory test and, if positive, provided with care in a special isolation unit.
By 18 March, 3675 contacts of the 376 confirmed Lassa fever cases in Nigeria had been identified and more than three-quarters had completed their 21 days of monitoring.
In Edo state – where the outbreak has been spreading particularly fast – WHO, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the local government are reaching out to communities with a large-scale awareness raising campaign.
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling infected rats, food or household items contaminated by the rats’ urine and faeces. The virus can spread between people through direct contact with the body fluids of a person infected with Lassa fever, as well as contaminated bedding and clothing.
Community members are being advised of a range of preventive measures including washing hands regularly, storing food in containers with lids, keeping their homes clean and tidy to discourage rats from entering and cooking foods thoroughly.
Garri, which is made from cassava tubers, is a staple food in this part of Nigeria. Traditionally, families have left the crushed cassava outside in the sun to dry out. During the sensitization sessions, participants are encouraged to dry garri through frying over a hot stove, rather than in the sun.
After one of awareness raising sessions, one primary school teacher says she has learnt important hygiene lessons that she will share.
The teacher promised to create awareness among the pupils so they will take these messages back to their homes.
But changing behaviours is no easy task.
In one house, Faith and her team find a basket full of rats being kept as pets by a boy. Nearby, garri is being dried in the sun. Faith quickly advises the household to cover the food.
WHO is working with communities to deliver messages that will encourage preventive actions and ultimately save lives.
Over the years there have been an increase in the number of cases of Lassa fever in the country, Which is somehow disheartening due to the effort of the international bodies like WHO.
The symptoms of this illness includes; headache, fever, bleeding, facial swelling,conjunctivitis , cough, chest pain among others.
Its spread can be Controlled by the reduction of the Mastomys rodent population in other to keep rodents out of homes and food supplies, encouraging effective personal hygiene, storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, and disposing of garbage far from the home to help sustain clean households.
This can only be achieved through sensitisation programs and provision of financial resources to health sector.
The citizens also have a role to play through proper handling of food items,reducing contact with rats and maintenance of clean environment.
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