There is no need to panic over Lassa fever. While it has similarities to ebola but it is not ebola.
Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola. Symptoms begin one to three weeks after the person becomes infected and may include fever, sore throat, vomiting, facial swelling, mucosal bleeding, and possible neurological problems. In about 20 per cent of those infected, it can be severe and affect multiple systems in the body. The most common complication is deafness.
Lassa fever is fatal in 1 per cent of cases, in contrast, Ebola is fatal in 70 per cent of cases without treatment.
Lassa fever is also much less contagious than Ebola. It’s carried by a particular specie of rat, and humans typically become infected from coming into contact with urine or droppings. The Lassa virus isn’t transmitted through casual contact, although “in rare cases” it can be transmitted through direct contact with a sick person’s bodily fluids or through sexual contact.
Details About Ebola
Ebola is highly contagious, transmitted through contact of bodily fluids including mucus, vomit, sweat and tears.
There is an effective treatment for Lassa fever called Ribavirin. While treatments for Ebola are still being tested.
Rather than panic, lets practise good hygiene and be vigilant for any signs and symptoms (a flu-like symptoms that does not seem to be shifting after proper treatment, domestic staff who have just returned from home and showing signs of unexplained illness, etc).
Symptoms Of Lassa Fever:
Remember, prevention is better than cure. Things to do
- Appropriate handwashing techniques. Using soap and running water is the best way to ensure that the hands are clean. If you aren’t near a sink, wash your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and follow the same steps. Remember to wash your hand as often as they need to (when coming into the house from outside, after playing in the garden/playground, before eating and preparing food & after using the toilet)
- Keep your environment clean as rodents tend to live in unclean, dirty environments
- Practice appropriate refuse disposal. As rodents tend to live amongst the rubbish, ensure that refuse is disposed of appropriately in sealed bags and covered bins. Refuse should be disposed of
(especially the kitchen) every day and from the outside of the house at least once a week (speak to your local government about refuse disposal if you have any concerns)
- Store food in rodent-proof containers. As much as possible, use seal-tight containers for dry food storage (Garri, beans, rice, poundo yam flour, semovita, yam flour, etc). Storing food in bags or sacks provide easy access to rodents
- Avoid eating rodents. I know this sounds bizarre to a lot of people but many people each bush rat. It is a delicacy in many parts of Nigeria but these rats may carry the virus
- Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of infected people
- Healthcare workers should ensure appropriate protective mechanism while handling samples of sick persons (laboratory workers, nursing staff and other medical workers)
- Report any suspected cases of Lassa fever to appropriate authorities’ especially for people with recent travels to affected states
Finally, share this with your family, friends, colleagues and domestic staff. You are not only helping them but you are protecting yourself.
Stay Safe!!
Contributed by:Molade Adeniyi
@moladeadeniyi
