With the outbreak of the deadly Lassa fever across Nigeria, here are things to know about the virus and the deadly rat that transmits it.

1) Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in west Africa and is caused by the Lassa virus.

2) The Lassa virus, a member of the Arenavirus family of viruses is a single-stranded RNA virus and is zoonotic, or animal-borne.

3) The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria and the virus is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred.

4) In 1972, the Natal multimammate rat (aka Mastomys natalensis or the African rat ) was found to be the natural host of the Lassa fever virus.

5) It is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. are the largest family of rodents and indeed of mammals, containing over 700 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.

6) Mastomys natalensis is commonly known as the “multimammate rat” due to the female’s multiple and prominent mammary glands. These rats associate closely with humans, and are commonly found in and around African villages.

7) The virus is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures.

Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good “community hygiene” to discourage rodents from entering homes. Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households and keeping cats.

Family members should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.

God help us