Lassa Fever belongs to a group of viral illnesses called “Viral hemorrhagic fever” because of their tendency to cause fever and bleeding from various parts of the body.This usually creates a diagnostic dilemma for Doctors and other health professionals.
Did i also mention that they(Hemorrhagic fever) are most curable even though some a vaccine preventable.
Now lets address commonly asked questions about Lassa fever…



Why are Pictures of Rat Usually associated with Lassa?

Rats or rodents are the host of the Virus, Lassa Virus.They arbor the virus without developing the disease or suffering any negative health complication.In them(rats), it multiplies and its spread via their faeces and urine when humans come in contact with those.
In other words, rats are not the cause of Lassa Fever themselves but they spread the Virus through their droppings among others.



What are the Major Ways of Contracting the Infection?

The common means of infection is contact with droppings of rodents including urine and faeces.This usually occurs when food items or cooking utensils are contaminated.Other means of infection is consumption of these rats as it’s the practise in some west african countries like Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ghana.
It could also be contracted by contact with body fluids(blood, Faeces) of infected individuals as well as contact with dead bodies of infected persons.

Inhalation of tiny particles of infectious material (aerosol) is believed to be the most significant means of exposure.
It is possible to acquire the infection through broken skin or mucous membranes that are directly exposed to infectious material



What are the Chances of Death after and Infection?

This largely depends on the timing of the disease.In most cases, the chances of death is 1% but it could rise to as high as 50% during epidemics.


Is It Possible to have a Latent Infection of be a Carrier?

Latency has yet to be scientifically proven and its not possible to be a carrier of the disease.In fact, only 20% of individuals infected come down with the disease, the remaining 80% never develop the illness.

How long Does it Take To come down with Symptoms after exposure?

The incubation period is between 6 and 21 days.

What are the peculiar symptoms?

This may cause fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, stooling, vomiting and bleeding from various body parts.Unfortunately, none of these symptoms are peculiar to Lassa.These may also be found in Malaria fever, Yellow fever, Ebola infection among others.

How can these be Effectively and definitively Prevented?

Control of the rodent population is impractical, so measures focus on keeping rodents out of homes and food supplies, encouraging effective personal hygiene, storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, and disposing of garbage far from the home to help sustain clean households.
Avoid contact with body fluid of infected persons and direct contact with dead bodies.



Are there available Vaccines?

There are None yet!

Can it Be Sexually Transmitted?

It has be found in seminal fluid, even for as long as 3 months after infection.It has also been found in Vaginal secretions.

How is it Diagnosed?

This ALWAYS requires laboratory test but first, a high index of clinical suspicion since Malaria fever could present similarly.



I WANT TO USE THIS MEDIUM TO CONDOLE WITH FAMILIES OF HEALTH WORKERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THIS MENACE

Source:https://afonjaman.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-lassa-fever/

Well done OP