Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease, is
recently sending fear and threat of death to the people and health workers in
the country. The fever is associated with vomiting, stooling, muscle fatigue
and very high fever at the primary stages. Facial swelling, flushing,
photophobia and swollen glands are also symptoms of Lassa fever. Lassa
fever outbreaks is an annual ritual in Nigeria and some West African countries.
The disease spread like wildfire through contact, fluid, sex etc.
recently sending fear and threat of death to the people and health workers in
the country. The fever is associated with vomiting, stooling, muscle fatigue
and very high fever at the primary stages. Facial swelling, flushing,
photophobia and swollen glands are also symptoms of Lassa fever. Lassa
fever outbreaks is an annual ritual in Nigeria and some West African countries.
The disease spread like wildfire through contact, fluid, sex etc.
History of
Lassa fever in Nigeria
Lassa fever in Nigeria
Lassa fever or Lassa haemorrhagic fever(LHF) is an
acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus and first broke out in
1969 in Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria. Lassa virus is a member of the
Arenaviridae virus family.
acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus and first broke out in
1969 in Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria. Lassa virus is a member of the
Arenaviridae virus family.
The disease was named after the town in Borno
State, Lassa, where it was first recorded in 1969, when two missionary nurses
contracted the sickness, and died thereafter from it. The sickness is spread
through the consumption of infected rats, and exchange of bodily fluids with
infected persons. Natal multimammate mouse found commonly in subsaharan African
countries are the main host of the Lassa virus.
State, Lassa, where it was first recorded in 1969, when two missionary nurses
contracted the sickness, and died thereafter from it. The sickness is spread
through the consumption of infected rats, and exchange of bodily fluids with
infected persons. Natal multimammate mouse found commonly in subsaharan African
countries are the main host of the Lassa virus.
Nigeria, and several other West African countries,
experience yearly outbreak of Lassa fever. The year 2016 had the highest number
of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent , there
were 83 cases and 40 deaths in 10 states.
experience yearly outbreak of Lassa fever. The year 2016 had the highest number
of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent , there
were 83 cases and 40 deaths in 10 states.
Signs and
symptoms of Lassa fever
symptoms of Lassa fever
Lassa fever infections suppress the immune system
and present itself as headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain. It has an incubation
period of 1-3 weeks. It is difficult to clinically distinguish Lassa fever from
malaria. Lassa fever virus is present in the urine and fluid of survivors for
three -12 weeks after. Research shows that about 80 per cent of people
who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. One in five infections
result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the
liver, spleen and kidneys.
and present itself as headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain. It has an incubation
period of 1-3 weeks. It is difficult to clinically distinguish Lassa fever from
malaria. Lassa fever virus is present in the urine and fluid of survivors for
three -12 weeks after. Research shows that about 80 per cent of people
who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. One in five infections
result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the
liver, spleen and kidneys.
Measures
to prevent Lassa fever
to prevent Lassa fever
The Federal Ministry of Health should drive the
processes which will compel the active participation of community pharmacists
and physicians, environmental health officers, nurses, laboratory scientists
and other public health experts at grass root levels. These services must be
paid for to incentivise these health care workers as it ultimately saves our
nation tones of money spent on curative drugs.
processes which will compel the active participation of community pharmacists
and physicians, environmental health officers, nurses, laboratory scientists
and other public health experts at grass root levels. These services must be
paid for to incentivise these health care workers as it ultimately saves our
nation tones of money spent on curative drugs.
Also the gospel of good hygiene and other public
health ideals should be spread by health professionals in their practice
facilities at community levels and also to empower Environmental Health Officers to
enforce health statutes.
health ideals should be spread by health professionals in their practice
facilities at community levels and also to empower Environmental Health Officers to
enforce health statutes.
The need for aggressive campaign against this
disease should not be undermined. The public has been advised by the Special
Committee on Lassa Fever to avoid spreading or drying food items on the
roadside or outdoors as it is the practice in processing amala (unripe plantain
powder), garri etc. Food items should be properly covered and kept in sealed
containers. People should avoid eating food suspected to have been contaminated
with rodent’s faeces or urine.
disease should not be undermined. The public has been advised by the Special
Committee on Lassa Fever to avoid spreading or drying food items on the
roadside or outdoors as it is the practice in processing amala (unripe plantain
powder), garri etc. Food items should be properly covered and kept in sealed
containers. People should avoid eating food suspected to have been contaminated
with rodent’s faeces or urine.
Recommendations
Having
critically reviewed the resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria the following is
recommended:
critically reviewed the resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria the following is
recommended:
i.
The general public should be educated on the causes
of Lassa fever and measures to prevent it.
The general public should be educated on the causes
of Lassa fever and measures to prevent it.
ii.
Measures should be put in place to kill the Mastomys
rat which is referred to as the major carrier of Lassa fever.
Measures should be put in place to kill the Mastomys
rat which is referred to as the major carrier of Lassa fever.
iii.
Awareness campaign should be carried out by
government, community leaders and other stakeholders on Lassa fever to keep the
general public informed.
Awareness campaign should be carried out by
government, community leaders and other stakeholders on Lassa fever to keep the
general public informed.
iv.
The mass/social media should be used to sensitized
the people on measures to prevent the disease.
The mass/social media should be used to sensitized
the people on measures to prevent the disease.
References
Frame, J. E. (1970).
Lassa Fever, a new virus disease of man from West Africa. 1. Clinical
description and pathological findings, Amer.
J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 19, 670-676.
Lassa Fever, a new virus disease of man from West Africa. 1. Clinical
description and pathological findings, Amer.
J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 19, 670-676.
Green, C. A., Gordon,
D. H. & Lyons, N.C. (1976). The practical application of the biological
species concept to the taxon Pmomys (Mastomys) nataZensis (Smith) in studies of
rodent-borne disease.
D. H. & Lyons, N.C. (1976). The practical application of the biological
species concept to the taxon Pmomys (Mastomys) nataZensis (Smith) in studies of
rodent-borne disease.
Monath, T. P. (1973).
A hospital epidemic of Lassa fever in Zorzor, Liberia, March-April, 1972, Amer. J. Trop. Med., 22, 669-773.
A hospital epidemic of Lassa fever in Zorzor, Liberia, March-April, 1972, Amer. J. Trop. Med., 22, 669-773.
Ogbu, O., Ajuluchukwu, E. & Uneke, C. J.
(2016). Lassa fever in West Africa sub-region: an overview. J Vect Borne Dis. 44(1):1-11.
(2016). Lassa fever in West Africa sub-region: an overview. J Vect Borne Dis. 44(1):1-11.
Omilabu, S.A., Badaru, S.O., Okokhere, P., Asogun,
D., Drosten, C. & Emmerich, P. (2013). Lassa fever, Nigeria, 2003 to 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 11(10):1642–1644.
D., Drosten, C. & Emmerich, P. (2013). Lassa fever, Nigeria, 2003 to 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 11(10):1642–1644.
White, H. A. (1972).
Lassa fever. A study of 23 hospital cases, Trans;
Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 66, 396-401.
Lassa fever. A study of 23 hospital cases, Trans;
Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 66, 396-401.