What is Lassa fever?
Lassa fever is a rodent-borne infection caused by the Lassa virus. It is named after a town in Borno State, Nigeria. It is one of the viral hemorrhagic fevers prevalent in the West Africa region. Common in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, it occurs between November and April when bush burning is practised widely.
The virus resides in rodents of the Natalentis species. Humans get infected when our food or cooking utensils are contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rats.
The rats do not themselves come down with the infection.
Is it contagious?
Humans infect other humans through direct contact with infected body fluids: urine, blood, sputum. To contain this, infected humans must be isolated to avoid human to human transmission. Close contacts of infected individuals and health workers who do not observe standard infection control practices are at increased risk of being infected.
What are the features of Lassa fever infection? The features include high grade fever (38 degrees centigrade) and tends to last over two weeks, body weakness, myalgia, headaches, sore throat, bleeding gums, seizures/coma in severe cases, hearing loss (seen also in convalescent stage), multi organ failure: liver, kidney.
The incubation period is between two and three weeks.
The diagnosis is confirmed by the isolation of the antibodies to the virus, or detection of the virus.
What is the treatment for Lassa fever?
There is the possibility of cure with an antiviral agent called Ribavirin when started within the first week of the illness. But Ribavirin should be avoided in pregnant women because of the risk to the fetus.
Also, there is the need for supportive care with intravenous fluids, blood transfusion and medications for seizures as might be required.
What are the preventive measures against the fever?
Primary prevention involves avoidance of contact with rats. This tends to be heightened following bush burning. The rats are displaced from their natural habitat, so they come close to homes in search of alternative abode.
Bushes and clutters around the house must be cleared to make the surrounding unattractive to rats. Food, cooking utensils and drinking water must be kept in rat proof containers, avoid using rats as food sources.
Avoiding human to human transmission.Close contact of individuals with any illness involving fever that does not respond to treatment for malaria should be avoided. Gloves should be worn before touching body fluids.
Health workers must wear gloves, protective gowns and masks while caring for individuals suspected of Lassa fever. Hospitalised suspected cases must be isolated and contact with staff of the hospital minimised. Individualised equipment must be provided for such patients. Separate thermometers, blood pressure apparatuses, bath utensils etc, must be provided.
Specific team of health workers must be identified to care for suspected patients, who must be nursed in isolation.
By: Victoria Onehi
Daily Trust News
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