By Dr. O.P. OMONIYI (DHS)

Lassa Fever -
Is a disease that causes generalized
bleeding of the body when severe and it
is caused by a germ called Lassa virus. - It is a disease of animals. Humans
become infected from contact with
infected animals. - Lassa fever was first described in
Nigeria in 1969 at Lassa Village in Borno
State. - The lassa virus resides in a rodent or
rat called Mastomys rat. Usually the
Mastomys rat does not become ill but it
regularly sheds the virus in its urine,
faeces and other secretions. - The rats spread the lassa virus when
they feed on food items, urinate or
defaecate on food items or household
items that are later eaten or handled by
humans respectively. - Humans can also get the disease when
they are contaminated by the urine,
blood or faeces of the rat while killing or
processing the meat for food. - About 80% of people who become
infected with Lassa virus have no
symptoms and 1 out 5 infections result
in severe disease that affects several
organs of the body. About 1-20% of
affected patients usually die if prompt treatment is not given. - The disease can affect both male and
female, young or old. Health
professionals and relations of affected
patients are at greater risk of infection
as they care for the latter because the
disease is also transmitted from person to person through contamination by the
body fluids of patients. - Women in late pregnancy are usually
affected severely resulting in death in
more than 80% of cases. - Recent update shows 13 States of Nigeria, namely:- Bauchi, Nasarawa,
Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Oyo,
Abuja, Gombe Plateau, Imo and Ekiti
States have been affected. - About 95 suspected cases and 14
confirmed cases have been reported
with 43 deaths including a Medical
Doctor who attended to an infected
patient in Port- Harcourt. Symptoms: Symptoms usually develop within 5 – 21
days after the virus has been introduced
into the body. The symptoms of lassa
fever are usually non specific when they
occur. Only about 20% of victims show
symptoms such as:- gradual onset of fever, generalised body weakness,
malaise, headache, sore throat, muscle
pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, cough, and abdominal pain. In
severe cases, bleeding can occur in
different parts of the body like mouth, nose, vagina and anus resulting in low
blood pressure and shock. Seizures, disorientation, abnormal gait
and coma may also occur, Deafness
occurs in about 25% of cases that
survive the disease which may be
partial or permanent. Usually, death occurs within 14 days of
onset in fatal cases. Diagnosis: This is usually difficult because the
symptoms are non-specific and
resemble that of other diseases like
malaria, typhoid, influenza, ebola,
yellow fever etc. Where facilities are available, lassa
fever can be diagnosed by specific
methods (Elisa, RT-PCR, viral culture)
which are very expensive and not
widely available. Treatment:- Ribavirin, an antiviral drug has been
found to be effective in the treatment of
lassa fever if given early on in the
course of the illness. There is no vaccine for lassa virus
disease for now. Prevention:- - This is mainly by good personal/
community hygiene. - Limiting the entry of rodents/rats into
houses, food stores, and kitchen. - Avoiding the drying of food on roads
where rats can easily have access to the
food. - Maintaining a clean environment
including prompt and effective disposal
of refuse because rats breed in dirty
places. - Covering of food to securely prevent
rats from gaining access to the food. - Food already nibbed by rats should not
be eaten but destroyed. - Family members should avoid contact
with body fluids (e.g. blood, urine, saliva,
vomit etc) of sick persons. - High level of aseptic technique should
be practiced by health workers at all
times. - Cases of suspected lassa fever
infections must be isolated and report
made to the Federal/State Ministries of
Health. - Hand washing with running water and
soap is very essential. - Lassa virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse hence
use of condom is recommended. Please let us all adhere to a high level of
personal and environmental hygiene.
Thank you.
Ref: Lassa Fever update, FMOH,
(14/01/16.)