Lassa fever kills 40, as FG releases emergency numbers
On February 22, 2012 · In News 1:59 amTweet
By Victoria Ojeme
ABUJA—No fewer than 40 persons have died from Lassa fever in the last six weeks, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The government also said all 397 cases reported so far across the country would be treated at no cost to patients.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja, said six of the dead were health workers, including two doctors and four nurses.

He said other cases had been reported in 12 states, namely Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Taraba, Yobe, Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta and Lagos.

Of the 397 cases reported, the Minister said only 87 had been positively confirmed by medical officials.

He said adequate quantities of Ribavirin injections and tablets, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever, had been released to the affected states.

He also said the Ministry had deployed rapid response teams to all affected states, adding that there was great emphasis on routine barrier nursing precautions.

He said: “Nigeria has the capability to diagnose Lassa fever and all the cases reported so far were confirmed by our laboratories.

“No travel restriction will be imposed in the affected areas but hotlines have been provided for health workers for expert advice. The numbers are: 08037154575, 08023214998, 08037879701 and 08023047101.”

In his remarks, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate, said the Ministry had also distributed over 750,000 doses of Ribavirin injections and tablets as well as safety gloves and protective vests for health workers.

He said there were nine specialist centres across Nigeria where tests on Lassa fever could be done, and advised Nigerians not to panic as government was responding promptly and effectively to the outbreak.

… warns on domestic chemicals
By Funmi Olasupo
Abuja — Federal Government, yesterday, warned that chemicals commonly used for industrial, domestic and agricultural purposes could negatively impact on human health and the environment if uncontrolled.

Consequently, the government vowed to strictly enforce all environmental laws in the country to protect Nigerians.

Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, stated this at NESREA-step B World Bank-assisted workshop on environmental risk assessment in Abuja,







http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/lassa-fever-kills-40-as-fg-releases-emergency-numbers/

reloboy:

I still can' believe the Disease Lassa Virus originated from Lassa, bornu state

You bloody illiterate, try and read on what exactly is the Lassa fever is all about. Information is knowledge

^^ Why are you attacking the poor dude? Is there anything wrong in/with what he said? Wasn't it from there it originated? sheesh!

Please where can i get help in Mainland Lagos to test my daughter, She is having some of the symptoms, please help with an address !!!

Lassa Fever is a very Dredead disease?i can remember way back then in school AAU, so many people died of the virus, innocent students.i wonder if the virus is incurable. Anyway they said prevention is better than cure.the only way to avoid been infected is to stop drinking Garri?lassa fever is cause by rat, so if you drink any Garri, expecially those market women that sales Garri and keep it anywere?rat can enter and infect it.?So Beware?am nt still sure the disease is curable Yet?

Na wa oh.

@ Lagos_Boi , Call any these numbers, am sure they will be of help. 08037154575, 08023214998, 08037879701 and 08023047101

Atigba:

Lassa Fever is a very Dredead disease?i can remember way back then in school AAU, so many people died of the virus, innocent students.i wonder if the virus is incurable. Anyway they said prevention is better than cure.the only way to avoid been infected is to stop drinking Garri?lassa fever is cause by rat, so if you drink any Garri, expecially those market women that sales Garri and keep it anywere?rat can enter and infect it.?So Beware?am nt still sure the disease is curable Yet?

Back then in AAU, I lost my only birthday mate, a 400L Microbiology student. In a chat with her doctor when we went to the mortuary to collect her corpse for burial, it was amazing to hear him give figures of the deaths due to lassa and that it was even curable if the drugs were available. In my friend's case, the hospital did not have the drug in stock, and this was supposed to be a specialist/teaching hospital (Irrua). Thank God the Govt has finally woken up!

Symptoms
In 80% of cases the disease is inapparent, but in the remaining 20% it takes a complicated course. It is estimated that the virus is responsible for about 5,000 deaths annually. The fever accounts for up to one third of deaths in hospitals within the affected regions and 10 to 16% of total cases.
After an incubation period of six to twenty-one days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops. Non-specific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:
• Gastrointestinal tract
o Nausea
o Vomiting (bloody)
o Diarrhea (bloody)
o Stomach ache
o Constipation
o Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
o Hepatitis
• Cardiovascular system
o Pericarditis
o Hypertension
o Hypotension
o Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
• Respiratory tract
o Cough
o Chest pain
o Dyspnoea
o Pharyngitis
o Pleuritis
• Nervous system
o Encephalitis
o Meningitis
o Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
o Seizures
Clinically, Lassa fever infections are difficult to distinguish from other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg, and from more common febrile illnesses such as malaria.
The virus is excreted in urine for three to nine weeks and in semen for three months.

ABEG CHECK THE PERSON BESIDE YOU. SHINE YA EYE

@Ijogz How dare u call me an illitrate, You're a fucking little shit assed bastard who's never had a worthwhile thought in his pathetic existence. Nonsense see this small boy oooo
Olodo Obo Tati

the question is are the drugs available?!Action is what is needed not talking.Nigeria!!!!

beta invite whitemen on time!

reloboy:

@Ijogz How dare u call me an illitrate, You're a bleeping little poo assed bastard who's never had a worthwhile thought in his pathetic existence. Nonsense see this small boy oooo
Olodo Obo Tati

Am sorry i didn't know that you are one of those Mushin bros'(tout), Am so sorry sir

Wahala deyooo.

i read about the disease in a book (fever), i tot it was sumfn that had gone extinct afta the first epidemic. i hope it stops spreading, i also think the areas should b restrictd so that it's spread would b under check.

this one pass HIV/AIDS

Yes!!! Lassa fever originated in our very own Lassa town present day borno state in 1969 during the civil war. Its endemic(commonly found) in west africa with Nigeria have most of the occurences. During the War while famine dealt with the Southerners even when they resorted to eating only rats & other bush meats till there was no more rats in biafra, none was infected with this deadly viral lassa fever, but in the North lassa fever devastated the Northerners with the domestic rats around the corner.
Lassa fever is an African haemorrhagic fever(meaning it can cause severe internal haemorrhage) which is caused by Arena Virus an RNA Virus. Arena virus is also responsible for the South American Haemorrhagic fevers: Junim, Machupo, Saba(Brazil), Guanarito.
Lassa fever is an extremely deadly disease which can be transmitted by domestic rats mastolys natalensis.
The Virus can also spread from person to person by contact with infected body fluids like saliva, nasal secretions, blood, semen etc. Infact this virus spreads like wild fire & kills very rapidly
It causes high fever, mouth ulcer, bloody diarrhoea, bloody stool, heart, kidney & liver failure.
Infact beware its symptoms are non specific and varied and resembles that of the Ebola & Marburg haemorrhagic fever which are Filovirus. And the virus has a virulence rate of 90% in infants. Can be cured simply by using the antiviral drug ribavarin.

Well Im currently in University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus(UNEC) and there has been no reports of lassa fever in Enugu even though theres high tension about the virus.

We have a ? case of this in Enugu
Government of Enugu State should be at alert