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| Mastomys shortridgei
Lassa fever
What is Lassa fever?
The need to know about Lassa fever is very consequential to the prevention and
curbing the spread of the deadly virus. According to the WHO (2015), “ Lassa
fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 1-4 weeks duration that occurs
in West Africa”.
The virus is transmitted to humans through contacts with food
or household items infested with rodents (Mastomys rats) urine or faeces. Mastomys
rats infected with the Lassa virus do not become sick, but they can drop the
virus in their excreta.Transmission could also
be from one person to another or in a substandard laboratory where the samples
are being tested. Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) Lassa fever is also possible.
The Lassa fever has
some common features with the Ebola virus. However, the Lassa fever is not as
deadly as the Ebola virus because of its overall case fatality rate of 1%. The
Ebola virus has a fatality rate of 25% to 90% since it was identified. However,
care must be taken to ensure this virus is tamed before it goes out of hand especially the recent outbreak in Nigeria that has claimed over 30 lives.
Lassa fever is acknowledged
to be prevalent in Benin Republic, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and parts of
Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
Symptoms of Lassa fever
“The incubation period
of Lassa fever ranges from 6-21 days. The onset of the disease, when it is
symptomatic, is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, and
malaise. After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow. In severe
cases facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose,
vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop. Protein
may be noted in the urine. Shock, seizures, tremor, disorientation, and coma
may be seen in the later stages. Deafness occurs in 25% of patients who survive
the disease. In half of these cases, hearing returns partially after 1-3
months. Transient hair loss and gait disturbance may occur during recovery. Death usually occurs
within 14 days of onset in fatal cases. The disease is especially severe late
in pregnancy, with maternal death and/or fetal loss occurring in greater than
80% of cases during the third trimester” (WHO 2015).
There is no vaccine for
the treatment of Lassa fever. Early supportive care with rehydration and
symptomatic treatment improves survival.
Prevention and control
Reference:
WHO 2015 Lassa fever.[online]. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs179/en/ [Accessed January 12, 2016].
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