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What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever - Health - Nairaland

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Protect Yourself Against Lassa Fever / 72 Die From Lassa Fever In Nigeria - CNN / 101 Die From Lassa Fever In Nigeria (2) (3) (4)

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What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by onismate: 4:34am On Jan 23, 2016
Well, this is part of my Community development service (CDS) as a corp member. So am using this opportunity to bring awareness, remind us of this deadly disease, Lassa fever, to help us fight and protect our lives, families and communities.

LASSA FEVER: PROTECT YOURSELF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Lassa fever is a severe, life-threatening acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus that belongs to the family called arenaviridae. Lassa fever has an incubation period of 6-21 days.
Lassa fever is difficult to recognize and detect easily with high case fatality rate without medical intervention.
ORIGIN OF LASSA FEVER
Lassa fever was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa community, Maiduguri, Borno state in Nigeria, where it killed two missionary nurses. The disease has since spread to other west African countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia etc.
CAUSE OF LASSAFEVER
Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis); rat with many breasts.
HOW LASSA FEVER CAN BE CONTRACTED
Primary mode :
1. Direct contact with infected rats
2. Consumption of food infected or contaminated with excreta(urine or stool)of infected rats.
3. Consumption of infected rats
Secondary mode:
1. Through direct contact with infected blood or bodily secretions/fluid (urine, stool, sores, cuts or wounds and semen etc) or contaminated items (medical patients, needles, dirty bed sheets) formites or aerosole.
2. Through sexual intercourse with infected person or those who have recovered from Lassa fever.
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO LASSA FEVER
People of ll ages are susceptible. Pregnant women are more likely to develop severe disease especially in late pregnancy.
THOSE AT RISK OF CONTACTING LASSA FEVER
• Family members of Lassa fever patient
• Caretakers
• Traditional healers
• Medical & health care workers (high risk group)
• Patients receiving treatment from a health care professional who is also treating Lassa fever patients who is not appropriate infection control measures
• Participants of traditional burial rituals
• Sexual partners of a Lassa fever survivor or a suspected Lassa fever patient
• Hospital workers (Ward mate & laundry staff).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LASSA FEVER
Stage 1 (Days 1-3)
1. Generalized body weakness and malaise
2. Constant high fever (390c and above)
Stage 2 (days 4 – 7)
3. Sore throat white exudative pharyngitis (patches)-very common. Headache
4. Back, chest, side and abdominal pain. Conjunctivitis, Nausea and vomiting
5. Productive cough, proteinuria
6. Low blood pressure (systolic 100mmhg). Anaemia
Stage 3 (8 – 14 days)
7. Neck and facial swelling (edema). Convulsions.
8. Internal bleeding. Encephalopathy with confusion or disorientate.
9. Coma and death – after 14 days (stage 4)
TREATMENT/CURE FOR LASSA FEVER
1. Supportive treatment/psychological care using PPE, observing SOP and universal precautionary measures)
2. Drug treatment- (RIBAVIRIN) for 10days. Intravenous Ribavirin is most effective if given in the first 6 days of illness.
HOW LASSA FEVER CAN BE PREVENTED AND CONTROLLED
1. Avoid bush burning
2. Ensure rats are killed or put away from homes.
3. Avoid contact with rats
4. Personal hygiene (wash hands with soap and water)
5. Ensure that foods and food stuff are safe and always covered
6. Stop the consumption of rats (especially rats with many breast)
7. General environmental sanitation
8. Health education/community sensitization and awareness creation.
9. Hygienic funeral practices in our communities
COMPLICATIONS (SEQUALAE) FOLLOWING LASS FEVER INFECTION
Deafness, Abortion, fetal death, Hair loss, Loss of coordination, Multiple organ failure. Death.

WHEN WILL YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE LASSA FEVER?
If you have sudden, continuous high fever that does not respond appropriate anti-malarial and antibiotics, accompanied by neck/facial swelling, sore throat, chest pain and bleeding (from gums, nose, vagina or hemoptysis).
If you suspect any case of LASSA FEVER please go the nearest health center or hospital.


Please Nigerians Protect Yourself, family and community from this deadly disease, LASSA FEVER.

This message is Powered By Department of Disease control services, Rivers state Primary Health care Management Board.

Awareness by Corper Christian C. Ozor

50 Likes 16 Shares

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by onismate: 4:48am On Jan 23, 2016
lalasticlala , seun you can do the needful

1 Like 1 Share

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by kikilove(f): 4:49am On Jan 23, 2016
grin

1 Like

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by looseweight: 8:36am On Jan 23, 2016
Thank you for this piece
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by kaziblake(f): 8:37am On Jan 23, 2016
Thanks.We appreciate.

1 Like

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by youngberry001(m): 8:37am On Jan 23, 2016
inshaa Allahu we would not be victim's of lassa fever



#SayNo....to lassa fever sad

7 Likes

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by callJesu: 8:38am On Jan 23, 2016
Educative
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Nobody: 8:38am On Jan 23, 2016
kikilove:
grin

Wetin dey funny?
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Nobody: 8:38am On Jan 23, 2016
All dox village niggas chasing rats in the bush. Lol. Dx is serious matter o.
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by youngwarlocks: 8:38am On Jan 23, 2016
this lassa fever don begin take over lassan lassan, If u get Jesus no fear.....buh no see am make u go embrace am o. I cover myself, families, friends and all Nlers with d blood of Jesus.

1 Like

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Smellymouth: 8:39am On Jan 23, 2016
Nice one
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Nathdoug(m): 8:42am On Jan 23, 2016
Corper wee....thanks for d info bro....

2 Likes

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by yomsad(m): 8:43am On Jan 23, 2016
Thank you for the info
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by lightheart(m): 8:43am On Jan 23, 2016
Nice one, kwofa!
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by ellabooz(f): 8:43am On Jan 23, 2016
All these propaganda won't stop me from eating bush meat. Thank goodness bush meat cheap now.
This is for the weekend and it's almost half the initial price now. grin grin grin

2 Likes

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by B3sty(m): 8:45am On Jan 23, 2016
Good
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by MeloGist(m): 8:46am On Jan 23, 2016
grin grin Oya na where una dey?


Check How Lassa Fever Transmits here:-
https://www.nairaland.com/2878800/how-lassa-fever-transmits-how

3 Likes

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by XieXie: 8:47am On Jan 23, 2016
Well done Ajuwaya
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Aroh48(m): 8:48am On Jan 23, 2016
dis lassa fever self
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by businesspreneur: 8:55am On Jan 23, 2016
Follow the advise of experts like you should not eat raw GARI for now and keep rats away from our vicinity. PERIOD!
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by thefakestan: 9:01am On Jan 23, 2016
Caution is needed









ThefakeStan
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Mayour11(m): 9:14am On Jan 23, 2016
Great Bro. thanks I appreciate.
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by Kaycee625(m): 9:18am On Jan 23, 2016
onismate:
Well, this is part of my Community development service (CDS) as a corp member. So am using this opportunity to bring awareness, remind us of this deadly disease, Lassa fever, to help us fight and protect our lives, families and communities.

LASSA FEVER: PROTECT YOURSELF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Lassa fever is a severe, life-threatening acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus that belongs to the family called arenaviridae. Lassa fever has an incubation period of 6-21 days.
Lassa fever is difficult to recognize and detect easily with high case fatality rate without medical intervention.
ORIGIN OF LASSA FEVER
Lassa fever was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa community, Maiduguri, Borno state in Nigeria, where it killed two missionary nurses. The disease has since spread to other west African countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia etc.
CAUSE OF LASSAFEVER
Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis); rat with many breasts.
HOW LASSA FEVER CAN BE CONTRACTED
Primary mode :
1. Direct contact with infected rats
2. Consumption of food infected or contaminated with excreta(urine or stool)of infected rats.
3. Consumption of infected rats
Secondary mode:
1. Through direct contact with infected blood or bodily secretions/fluid (urine, stool, sores, cuts or wounds and semen etc) or contaminated items (medical patients, needles, dirty bed sheets) formites or aerosole.
2. Through sexual intercourse with infected person or those who have recovered from Lassa fever.
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO LASSA FEVER
People of ll ages are susceptible. Pregnant women are more likely to develop severe disease especially in late pregnancy.
THOSE AT RISK OF CONTACTING LASSA FEVER
• Family members of Lassa fever patient
• Caretakers
• Traditional healers
• Medical & health care workers (high risk group)
• Patients receiving treatment from a health care professional who is also treating Lassa fever patients who is not appropriate infection control measures
• Participants of traditional burial rituals
• Sexual partners of a Lassa fever survivor or a suspected Lassa fever patient
• Hospital workers (Ward mate & laundry staff).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LASSA FEVER
Stage 1 (Days 1-3)
1. Generalized body weakness and malaise
2. Constant high fever (390c and above)
Stage 2 (days 4 – 7)
3. Sore throat white exudative pharyngitis (patches)-very common. Headache
4. Back, chest, side and abdominal pain. Conjunctivitis, Nausea and vomiting
5. Productive cough, proteinuria
6. Low blood pressure (systolic 100mmhg). Anaemia
Stage 3 (8 – 14 days)
7. Neck and facial swelling (edema). Convulsions.
8. Internal bleeding. Encephalopathy with confusion or disorientate.
9. Coma and death – after 14 days (stage 4)
TREATMENT/CURE FOR LASSA FEVER
1. Supportive treatment/psychological care using PPE, observing SOP and universal precautionary measures)
2. Drug treatment- (RIBAVIRIN) for 10days. Intravenous Ribavirin is most effective if given in the first 6 days of illness.
HOW LASSA FEVER CAN BE PREVENTED AND CONTROLLED
1. Avoid bush burning
2. Ensure rats are killed or put away from homes.
3. Avoid contact with rats
4. Personal hygiene (wash hands with soap and water)
5. Ensure that foods and food stuff are safe and always covered
6. Stop the consumption of rats (especially rats with many breast)
7. General environmental sanitation
8. Health education/community sensitization and awareness creation.
9. Hygienic funeral practices in our communities
COMPLICATIONS (SEQUALAE) FOLLOWING LASS FEVER INFECTION
Deafness, Abortion, fetal death, Hair loss, Loss of coordination, Multiple organ failure. Death.

WHEN WILL YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE LASSA FEVER?
If you have sudden, continuous high fever that does not respond appropriate anti-malarial and antibiotics, accompanied by neck/facial swelling, sore throat, chest pain and bleeding (from gums, nose, vagina or hemoptysis).
If you suspect any case of LASSA FEVER please go the nearest health center or hospital.


Please Nigerians Protect Yourself, family and community from this deadly disease, LASSA FEVER.

This message is Powered By Department of Disease control services, Rivers state Primary Health care Management Board.

Awareness by Corper Christian C. Ozor


bro please how do i post on nairaland
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by GoodMuyis(m): 9:21am On Jan 23, 2016
thank you
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by GoodMuyis(m): 9:22am On Jan 23, 2016
Kaycee625:
bro please how do i post on nairaland

seun can we now have FAQ section
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by bumbex(f): 9:27am On Jan 23, 2016
thanks ......very informative
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by adeoluakin: 9:35am On Jan 23, 2016
Very useful piece.

May God save us from this scourge too!!!

1 Like

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by jachi001(f): 9:35am On Jan 23, 2016
Thanks for the information. I know we will overcome it very soon by God grace.

2 Likes

Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by alphaStoner(m): 9:37am On Jan 23, 2016
Still reading
Re: What To Know And How To Protect Yourself And Our Community From Lassa Fever by octopusfreaky(f): 9:39am On Jan 23, 2016
environ sanitation starts today in my house..

(1) (2) (Reply)

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