LASSA FEVER

INTRODUCTION

LASSA- A town in Borno State, Nigeria. 

FEVER-  Body temperature that is higher than normal (when body feels hot to touch). Normal temperature being 36.6ºC - 37.2ºC

Lassa fever is a disease discovered in Lassa town of Borno State, Nigeria (in 1969) that makes ones body temperature to be higher than normal. 

However
the name "LASSA FEEVER" is not actually telling the full story (it's not all encompassing) because the fever is just the Tip of the Iceberg. It is more than just the fever alone and more deadly.

WHAT CAUSES LASSA FEVER?

Lassa fever is caused by Lassa virus, a virus so named after the town it was discovered.

Viruses- are small living thing that we cannot see with our naked eyes unless we aid (assist) it with a microscope that lives inside another living thing called 'Host' exclusively. 

WHAT TRANSMITS LASSA FEVER VIRUS?

The Natural host or reservoir for lassa virus is a rat known as multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis). 

A multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis).

Mastomys natalensis is commonly known as the "multimammate rat" due to the female's multiple and prominent mammary glands.

A multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis).

HOW DO PEOPLE GET LASSA FEVER?

The reservoir of lassa virus is a rat known as multimammate rat. Once a multimammate rat is infected with the virus, it's able to excrete the virus in its urine and feces. The multimammate rat usually colonize homes and areas where food is stored. 
Transmission to humans is usually through;

1. Eating of foods contaminated with the rat droppings (i.e faeces urine). 
2. Inhaling aerosolized viruses when sweeping the rat's droppings.
3. Directly touching soiled objects with the rat droppings. 
4. Consuming the rat as food source.
5. Person to person transmission occurs after exposure to virus in the blood, tissue, secretions, or excretions of a Lassa virus - infected individual. Person - to - person transmission is common in health care settings (called nosocomial transmission) where proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is not available or not used. Lassa virus may be spread in contaminated medical equipment.

Casual contact ( including skin - to - person contact without exchange of body fluids ) does not spread Lassa virus. 

HOW AM I GOING TO KNOW IF I OR SOMEONE ELSE HAS LASSA FEVER? 

Within 6 days to 3 weeks of infection with the viruses, the sufferers would develop the symptoms in the picture below. 

PHOTO SPEAKS

WHAT TO DO

Notify any health officer or centre nearest to you who would ensure an appropriate arrangement for immediate and tactical transportation to the centre for treatment. 

"*NEVER ATTEMPT TO TREAT LASSA FEVER AT HOME BY YOURSELF*"

PREVENTION

There is no injection or vaccine to prevent Lassa fever. To prevent lassa fever, we must prevent its spread by the rats by;

1. Avoiding contact with rats as well as food or objects contaminated with rat excretions. 
2. Cover all foods to avoid contamination and report all suspected cases to enable early treatment. 
3. Avoid drying food in the open or along road side.
4. Family members and health workers should be careful and avoid contact with blood or body fluids while caring for persons with symptoms similar to the one shown above for lassa fever and nearest health facility should be notified immediately. 
5. Ultimately eliminating the rat in and around homes. 

CONCLUSION

Lassa fever is for real and rodents are the transmitters. Never pet rats.